Committees

A meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Friday, 28 August 2009 at 10.00 a.m.  Members are asked to note the early start time.

 

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

 

Members are advised that webcast equipment has been installed in the Highland Council Chamber and that this meeting will be recorded.

 

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. Briefing on Protocol for the Webcasting of Meetings

 

2. Apologies for Absence

 

3. Board Membership Update

 

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

 

Substantive Member:

  • Mr B Gormley (replacing Mr J Finnie)

Substitute Members:

  • Ms M Smith (replacing Mr B Gormley)
  • Mr D Chisholm (replacing Mrs L Munro)

Following these changes there are now vacancies on the following Sub-Committees:

  • Discipline Appeals Sub-Committee
  • Grievance Appeals Sub-Committee

The Board is invited to fill these vacant posts.

 

4. Best Value Audit

 

i. Presentation – Best Value Audit Team

 

At its meeting held on 13 May 2009, the Board noted a proposal for a Best Value Audit of Northern Constabulary and Northern Joint Police Board, to be conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Audit Scotland.

 

The Best Value Audit Team, comprising representatives of HMIC and Audit Scotland, will make a presentation to the Board on the audit process.

 

ii. Action Plan and Best Value Submission

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-47-09 dated 21 August 2009 by the Clerk updating the Board on preparation work for the forthcoming joint audit of Northern Constabulary and the Northern Joint Police Board, including the Self Assessment Action Plan and Best Value Submission. 

 

The Board is asked to note:-

 

i.   the proposed EFQM Action Plan; and
ii.   the Best Value submission paper to Audit Scotland in preparation for the 
     audit and inspection process.

 

5. Presentation on the Public Performance Report 2008/09

 

The Chief Constable will present the Northern Constabulary Public Performance Report (PPR) 2008/09.

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-29-09 dated 17 August 2009 by the Chief Constable introducing the PPR, copies of which will be tabled at the meeting. Public copies will be available on-line from 28 August 2009 at www.northern.police.uk.  Additional copies will also be available from the Clerk.

 

6. Minutes – Previous Meeting

 

There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of Board Meeting 13 May 2009.

 

7. International Standard on Auditing 260

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-30-09 dated 13 August 2009 by the Treasurer inviting the Board to delegate powers to the Treasurer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Audit Working Group, to deal with the requirements of International Standard on Auditing 260 in relation to (a) the 2008/09 audit, and (b) future audits, the latter in circumstances where the Board’s meeting schedule again does not permit the Board to consider the Audit Working Group recommendation regarding the ISA 260 report in advance of signing the audit certificate.

 

8. Revenue Expenditure Out-turn 2008/09

 

Members are advised that the Audit Working Group will be meeting immediately following this meeting of the Board.  The agenda business includes consideration of the Unaudited Accounts for 2008/09.  The Minutes of that meeting will be reported to the Board at its next meeting on 27 November 2009.

 

9. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2009/10

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-31-09 dated 19 August 2009 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period from 1 April to 31 July 2009.

 

10. Revenue Reserves Strategy 2009-2010

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-32-09 dated 19 August 2009 by the Chief Constable informing the Board of the plans for utilisation of revenue reserves.

 

11. Capital Out-turn 2008/09

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-33-09 dated 15 August 2009 presenting the capital expenditure out-turn for 2008/09.

 

12. Capital Expenditure Monitoring Statement 2009/10

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-34-09 dated 11 August 2009 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Capital Expenditure for the period 1 April to 31 July 2009.

 

13. Estate Management Report

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-35-09 dated 12 August 2009 by the Chief Constable providing an overview of the Capital and Management Projects Programme.

 

14. Procurement Report

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-36-09 dated 12 August 2009 by the Chief Constable on recent procurement activity.

 

15. National Command and Control System

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-37-09 dated 3 August 2009 by the Chief Constable informing the Board of the position on procurement of a National Command and Control System.

 

16. Single Outcome Agreements

 

At its meeting held on 14 November 2008, the Board agreed that the issue of Single Outcome Agreements be a standing item on future agendas, to enable the Board to monitor progress.

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-38-09 dated 4 August 2009 by the Chief Constable informing Members on the current status of the Single Outcome Agreements.

 

17. Variable Shift Arrangement

 

At its meeting held on 23 January 2009, the Board noted a presentation on the Variable Shift Arrangement, the new corporate operational shift system.

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-39-09 dated 3 August 2009 by the Chief Constable providing Members with a six monthly review of the Variable Shift Arrangement.

 

18. Investors in People

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-40-09 dated August 2009 by the Chief Constable providing Members with an update on progress against the Investors in People standard.

 

19. Gender Equality Duty

 

i. Northern Joint Police Board

 

At its meeting held on 13 May 2009, the Board delegated powers to the Clerk, in consultation with those Members appointed to sit on the Force’s Diversity Group, to finalise and publish the Board’s annual report on its Gender Equality Scheme by the due date of 29 June 2009.

 

Members are advised that this document was published by its due date on the Board’s web pages; copies can also be obtained from the Clerk’s office.

 

ii. Northern Constabulary

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-41-09 dated 10 August 2009 by the Chief Constable introducing his annual report in relation to the Gender Equality Duty, also duly published, as appended to the report.

 

20. Role Descriptions for Members

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-42-09 dated 24 July 2009 by the Clerk recommending the introduction of Role Descriptions for the Convener, Vice Convener and Board Members, in line with guidance issued by the Scottish Government.

 

21. Chief Constable’s Periodic Report

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-43-09 dated 6 August 2009 by the Chief Constable comprising his Periodic Report and covering the following issues:-

  • Crime and Road Accident Statistics (circulated in a separate booklet)
  • Crime Situation

22. Letters of Appreciation

 

There will be tabled for noting 38 letters of appreciation received by the Chief Constable for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2009.  There is also circulated Report No. pol-44-09 dated 8 July 2009 by the Chief Constable illustrating letters of appreciation.

 

23. Media Coverage

 

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

 

24. Complaints against the Police

 

There is circulated Report No. pol-45-09 dated 8 July 2009 by the Chief Constable regarding complaints against Police Officers from 1 April to 30 June 2009.

 

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.

 

25. Schedule of Meetings

 

As Members are aware, setting a full schedule for Board meetings in 2010 will require information on the schedules to be set by the individual Constituent Authorities.  On this basis, a report recommending a full schedule will be brought to the November meeting of the Board.  However, as Members are also aware, it is necessary for the Board to meet in January 2010 to set its budget for 2010/11 and late November approval gives relatively short notice for this.

 

Accordingly, the Board is asked to agree that:-

 

i.    the Board’s first meeting of 2010 be held on Friday, 29 January 2009
     (a.m.), in Inverness; and
ii.    should there be a need for a prior meeting of the Finance and Policy 
      Working Group to consider the budget, this be held on Friday, 15 January 
      2009 (a.m.). 

 

26. Execution of Deeds

 

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

  • Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Mr and Mrs Rajah Rajunder Singh of 7 Viewfield Road, Inverness

27. Exclusion to 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.

 

28. Land at Arisaig - Disposal

 

Paragraph 9

 

There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL46/09 dated 13 August 2009 by the Clerk on the proposed disposal of a small area of land at Arisaig.

 

29. Police Housing

 

Paragraphs 1 & 12

 

There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL48/09 dated 21 August 2009 by the Clerk concerning a recent application in relation to housing.

 

30. Complaints Involving Senior Officers

 

Paragraphs 1 & 12

 

There are circulated to Members only in a separate Booklet A:-

  • Reports Nos CWG9/09 and CWG10/09 dated 17 June 2009 and Report No. CWG11/09 dated 11 August 2009 by the Clerk, previously considered by the Complaints Working Group at its meetings held on 25 June 2009 20 August 2009
  • Minutes of Meeting of the Complaints Working Group held on 25 June 2009 and 20 August 2009
  • draft letters of response from the Clerk to the complainers reflecting the views of the Working Group
  • further email and attachment dated 10 August 2009 received from a 
    complainant whose complaint had been considered by the Working Group on25 June 2009, together with copy of the text under which he had forwarded this later email to the Area Procurator Fiscal, the Working Group being asked at its 20 August meeting what impact, if any, this further correspondence might have on the draft response drawn up following its 25  June meeting and circulated to the Board for approval

There will follow Minutes of Meeting of the Working Group held on 20 August 2009 and associated papers.