Committees

A meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, on Friday, 29 August 2008 at 10.30 am.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully,

Michelle Morris

Clerk to the Board

Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Presentation on the Public Performance Report 2007/08

The Chief Constable will present the Northern Constabulary Public Performance Report 2007/08.

Copies of the Public Performance Report will be tabled at the meeting. Public copies will be available on-line from 29 August 2008 at www.northern.police.uk and additional copies will also be available from the Clerk.

3. Presentation by Northern Constabulary Roads Policing Unit

Inspector John Smith will make a presentation to the Board on the specialist work being undertaken by the Force in relation to Road Safety.

4. Board Membership Update

The Board is asked to note formally the following changes in Highland Council appointments to the Board.

Substantive Members:

Mr Hamish Wood (replacing Mr Martin Rattray)

Mr Graham Marsden (replacing Mr David Chisholm)

Substitute Members:

Mr Martin Rattray (replacing Mrs Carolyn Wilson)

Mr Laurie Fraser (replacing Mr Graham Marsden)

Following these changes, there are now vacancies on the following Sub-Committees and Working Groups, which Members are invited to fill:

Discipline Appeals Sub-Committee (1 place)

Independent Custody Visiting Sub-Committee (1 place)

Audit Working Group (1 place)

Complaints Working Group (1 place)

Finance and Policy Working Group (1 place)

5. Minutes – Previous Meeting

There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of Board Meeting of 23 April 2008.

6. Minutes – Complaints Working Group

There are circulated for confirmation Minute of the Complaints Working Group held on 12 August 2008.

7. Force Review Programme Update

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-34-08 by the Chief Constable providing a progress report on the implementation of the ongoing Force Review Programme.

8. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2008/09

There is circulated Report No. pol-35-08 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period 1 April to 31 July 2008.

9. Capital Expenditure Monitoring Statement 2008/09

There is circulated Report No. pol-36-08 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Capital Expenditure for the period 1 April to 31 July 2008.

10. Capital Out-turn 2007/08

There is circulated Report No. pol-37-08 dated 15 August 2008 presenting the capital expenditure out-turn for 2007/08.

11. Procurement Report

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-38-08 by the Chief Constable providing Members with a report on recent procurement activity.

12. Collaboration Agreement between Chief Constables and Police Authorities/Joint Police Boards

There is circulated Report No. pol-39-08 by the Chief Constable dated 1 August 2008 providing a background to a Collaboration Agreement between Chief Constables and the eight Scottish police authorities for the purposes of procuring goods and services for Scottish police forces.

Members are invited:

i. to consider approving the proposals for the establishment of a Collaboration Agreement between and among Chief Constables and the eight Scottish police authorities in accordance with Section 12(2) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, as amended, for the purposes of procuring goods and services for Scottish police forces; and

ii. in that event, to authorise the Clerk to the Board to sign the finally agreed Collaboration Agreement for and on behalf of the Board.

13. Fleet Management Unit Update

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-40-08 by the Chief Constable dated August 2008 informing Members of the initiatives being undertaken by the Force Fleet Management Unit in relation to fleet efficiency.

14. Scottish Police Authorities Conveners Forum

(a) Recent Issues

There is circulated Report No. pol-50-08 by the Assistant Clerk on a number of issues discussed at recent meetings of the Scottish Police Authorities Conveners Forum.

The Board is asked to:

i.     note the issues recently discussed;
ii.    consider responding to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland's Independent Review of Policing; and
iii.   agree that, if thought necessary prior to the Board's November meeting, the issues of COSLA proposals for greater integration of the Police Service into its structures be referred to the Finance and Policy Working Group for consideration.

(b) Visits to other Police Authorities

The Scottish Police Authorities Conveners Forum recently agreed that there would be merit in representatives of each Police Authority/Joint Board attending meetings of the other seven authorities.

The Board is asked to agree:

i. that the Convener and Vice Convener be authorised to attend meetings of the other Scottish Police Authorities/Joint Boards; and

ii. to extend an invitation to those authorities to send representatives to attend meetings of this Board.

15. Independent Custody Visiting Scheme – Scottish Progress Report 2007/08

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-41-08 by the Clerk dated 19 August 2008 appending the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme Annual Report for 2007/08, already submitted on behalf of the Board to meet the requested deadline for inclusion in the Scottish Independent Custody Visiting Scheme Progress Report for 2007/08.

16. Anti-Social Behaviour

At its meeting held on 23 April 2008, the Board noted that a report would be prepared for a future meeting focussing on anti-social behaviour and quality of life issues and highlighting the work done in prioritising these issues.

In this connection, there is circulated for noting Report No. pol-42-08 by the Chief Constable dated 30 July 2008 providing information to Members on various aspects relating to anti-social behaviour.

17. Chief Constable’s Periodic Report

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-43-08 by the Chief Constable comprising his Periodic Report and covering the following issues:-

i. Crime and Road Accident Statistics (circulated in a separate booklet); and

ii. Crime Situation

18. Positive Media Coverage Report

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-44-08 by the Chief Constable dated 12 August 2008 relating to a selection of some of the positive media overage during the period May to July 2008, reflecting some of the work undertaken to respond positively to the media.

A press cuttings book will be available available for inspection by Members prior to the meeting.

19. Letters of Appreciation

There will be tabled for noting 57 letters of appreciation received by the Chief Constable for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2008. There is also circulated Report No. pol-45-08 dated 15 July 2008 by the Chief Constable illustrating letters of appreciation.

20. Complaints against the Police

There is circulated Report No. pol-46-08 dated 15 July 2008 by the Chief Constable regarding complaints against Police Officers from 1 April to30 June 2008.

It is recommended that the Complaints Book specifying complaints against Northern Constabulary, which will be available for inspection by Members prior to the meeting, be declared exempt by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

21. Execution of Deeds

Members are asked to note the following deeds recently executed on behalf of the Board:

· Disposition by the Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Mr and Mrs Calum MacQueen of 7 Laggan Road, Inverlochy, Fort William

· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of John Alan Fitzgerald and Yvonne Murray Fitzgerald of 8 Clarence Street, Thurso

· Disposition by The Highland Council with consent of the Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Alison MacInnes and Steven MacInnes of 4 Manse Road, Ardgay, Sutherland

22. Exclusion of the Public

The Board is asked to resolve that, under Section 50(A)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraph being shown.

23. Force Review Implementation

Paragraph 1

There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL47/08 by the Chief Constable informing Members of the final Police Staff position with associated costs and savings resulting from the Force Review.

24. Police Housing

Paragraphs 8 & 9

There is circulated for noting Report No. POL48/08 by the Chief Constable dated August 2008 on proposals for the future provision of police housing.

25. Removal Allowance: Mortgage Interest

Paragraph 1

There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL49/08 by the Chief Constable dated 4 August 2008 on a request received for assistance in relation to a mortgage.

26. Complaints Working Group

Paragraph 1

There are circulated separately to Members only in Booklet A agenda and papers previously considered by the Complaints Working Group at its meeting held on 7 August 2008, together with the Minutes of that meeting.