Police Negotiating Board: annual report 2018 to 2019

3. Chairman's Comments

3.1 It has been the practice that the Chair of the PNB should offer some personal remarks in this Report, and I continue that practice here. These are of course my remarks and do not represent the views of the Sides.

3.2 The 2018-19 reporting year has consolidated the use of the Scottish Police Consultative Forum (SPCF) for discussions and scoping out of issues that may then be brought to the PNB for completion. This informal process allows for useful dialogue and eases change where required. Similarly, both our Equalities and Technical Working Groups have added depth of focus to our arrangements.

3.3 Last year's multi-year pay deal has freed up time this year for negotiators to address detailed points within the terms and conditions of police officers. While such work never hits the headlines, it is very important for officers on the ground and can be the source of much frustration and resentment when not addressed. The Secretaries and members of both Sides of the PNB are to be commended for their efforts. Here, and in the work of the Equalities Working Group, the merger process to form a national police force in Police Scotland still has many basic issues to address to ensure that officers across the country are treated in a similar way. This is particularly important for the gathering of data on which so many of these negotiations and other decisions very much depend. As in previous years, I hope that all parties will see the SPCF and PNB as offering the facility to further their discussions as required.

3.4 I must note here that we still await the commencement of provisions contained in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 that will fully establish the PNB arrangements as part of the Scottish policing and bargaining landscape. I am very conscious of the enormous disruption to government brought about in the aftermath of the Brexit decision; however, this matter does need to be overtaken soon.

3.5 I am again grateful for the informal discussions held over the period with the Police Remuneration Review Body for England and Wales and its officials and I am grateful for their openness in sharing views on common issues. Similarly, our link with officials from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) through the direct involvement of SPPA personnel in meetings of the PNB, is very helpful. I would also like to thank Police Scotland and in particular the officers of Drylaw Police Station in Edinburgh for facilitating a 'day in the life' visit for the Independent Secretary and myself in March. I very much appreciate the opportunity this offered to better understand the day in, day out work carried out by police officers.

3.6 In all this process, I am indebted to our Independent Secretary Gordon Smith. Gordon continues to consolidate the back office of the PNB and SPCF to produce a sound and effective administrative foundation for our work.

Ian McKay

Independent Chair

Police Negotiating Board Scotland