Police Negotiating Board: annual report 2022 to 2023

Part 1

Introduction

1.1 This is the 23rd Annual Report of the Independent Chair of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) and the sixth to cover Scotland only. It relates to the period 1 August 2022 to 16 August 2023, which marks the final date of the PNB before it was replaced by the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS) on 17 August 2023.

1.2 Ian McKay was appointed as the Independent Chair of the PNB on 17 August 2015 and the Scottish Government’s then Cabinet Secretary for Justice also appointed Mr McKay as Independent Chair of the Scottish Police Consultative Forum (SPCF). Mr McKay was re-appointed to these positions from 17 August 2019 and remained as Chair until the formation of the PNBS.

1.3 A summary of the membership of the PNB is provided at Annex A and information about the number and attendance of meetings held in this reporting period is provided at Annex B.

What we do

1.4 The PNB provided the negotiating forum for the pay and conditions of service of police officers in Scotland. The PNB also provided a means of enabling the representatives of serving police officers, and of those engaged in the management and governance of Police Scotland, to bring their expertise to bear on practical issues that affect the conditions of service of police officers.

The main outcomes in 2022 – 2023

1.5 The following section reports on agreements reached and on the progress towards agreement on a range of topics including: Pay 2022 claim and the formation of a strategic commitment working group to identify opportunities for improvement.

Main issues in the review period

2.1 Agreement was reached in August 2022 on changes to pay and terms and conditions with effect from 1 April 2022. The agreement included a 5.0% increase on all pay points for all ranks and a 5.0% increase to all appropriate allowances. Changes to a range of other allowances were also agreed.

2.2 Agreement to work together to agree the terms of, and deliver, a shared strategic commitment which will look to reduce the working week and the level of disruption to all police officers in a way that is financially sustainable whilst continuing to deliver high quality policing services to the public.

2.3 In March 2023, the Staff Side submitted a Pay 2023 claim. Agreement was reached for both sides to commence preliminary discussions. As of 16 August 2023, no pay deal had been agreed.

2.4 Members contributed to the formal consultation on PNBS regulations, constitution and arbitration arrangements which took place in February 2023.

Strategic Commitment Working Group (SCWG)

2.5 The SCWG, comprising of members of the PNB, was established as part of the 2022 pay settlement. Following the initial meeting of the SCWG in December 2022, members agreed to form two sub-groups in relation to health and justice to identify opportunities for improvement.

2.6 The Health and Justice Interface groups were composed of members representing the Official and Staff sides. Both groups produced a report to the SCWG and PNB on findings and proposals to take work forward.

2.7 The Justice sub-group met in March 2023 and identified police witnesses as a key area where improvements to practices and processes would reduce officer workload. Members proposed that the SPCF take this work forward. This approach was approved by the SPCF and PNB.

2.8 The Health sub-group met in February and May 2023. A number of areas were identified where there were opportunities for improvement, particularly around the time spent by officers in health settings. Police Scotland proposed setting up a short-life working group outwith the PNB to take this forward. This was endorsed by the PNB in June 2023.

2.9 Members noted the positive, collaborative, practical approach to the working groups worked very well and support their continued use in the future.

Technical working group (TWG)

2.10 The TWG met on 7 occasions during the period covered by this report and discussed a range of matters under its remit including:

• Acting ranks (Pay 2022)
• Annual leave calculation (Pay 2022)
• Electric vehicle mileage
• Flexi-time operation (Pay 2022)
• Inspector/Superintendent allowance (Pay 2022)
• Islands allowance (Pay 2022)
• Overseas allowance
• Paid parental/family friendly leave (Pay 2022)
• PNB Handbook
• Short-notice rest day working allowance
• Travelling expenses
• Unpaid leave (Pay 2021)

2.11 During this reporting period, the TWG meetings have taken place without a formal chair at the agreement of both Sides due to a commitment to collaborative working by both Official and Staff Side representatives.

Conciliation and arbitration arrangements

2.12 Conciliation and arbitration arrangements were not used in the reporting period.