Police Negotiating Board for Scotland meeting: February 2024

Attendees and apologies

Chair

Lisa Blackett, Independent

Official Side

David Algie, Official Side Secretariat
Lynn Brown, Police Scotland 
Stuart Houston, Police Scotland
Stewart Kirkland, Scottish Government
Ewen Logie, Police Scotland
John MacLean, Scottish Police Authority
Sarah Messenger, Official Side Secretary
Nicky Page, Police Scotland
Jane Ryder, Scottish Police Authority
Caroline Stuart, Scottish Police Authority
Graham Thomson, Scottish Government

Staff Side

Andrew Barker, Scottish Police Chief Officers Staff Association 
Stewart Carle, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
Lorna Cunningham, Scottish Police Federation
Ian Florence, Scottish Police Federation
Iain Gray, Scottish Police Federation
Rob Hay, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
Brian Jones, Scottish Police Federation
David Kennedy, Staff Side Secretary
James McLaren, Scottish Police Federation
Chris Sewell, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
Emma-Louise Smith, Scottish Police Federation

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and members gave brief introductions. 

Minutes from previous meeting on 26 October 2023

Members approved the minutes of the previous meeting.

Matters arising

No matters raised.

Pay update

a.    Pay agreement 2023-24

The Staff Side and the Official Side continue to work together on the independent review which is currently at the Request for Information (RFI) stage. The next step will be to advertise the tender opportunity. Sides to provide a further progress update at the PNBS in June.

b.    Pay negotiations 2024-25

The pay claim for 2024 – 2025 has not yet been submitted.

The positive approach to negotiations in recent years from both sides and the ability to reach agreement, even in challenging circumstances, was noted.

Operations and Review Group

The Chair gave an overview of the paper shared with members providing an update on the operations and guide review group.

The Chair highlighted the positive, productive, collaborative approach from review group members and thanked the the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) for providing a venue for the meetings. The Chair then welcomed feedback from members.

Members were positive in their feedback on the work of the group, noted the value of meeting in person and thanked the Chair and group members for driving this forward.

The Chair then presented the proposed new PNBS logo, noting this was subject to final approval, which was received positively by members.

The Chair will share the revised Guide for approval once agreed by the group.

Working group updates

A Technical Working Group (TWG) paper was shared with members ahead of the meeting highlighting:

• Recommendations from TWG for ratification at PNBS
• Decisions taken at TWG
• Work ongoing within TWG
• Areas requiring further dialogue within the Sides
• Areas requiring further discussion within Police Scotland
• Areas linked to the Scottish Police Consultative Forum (SPCF)

Members welcomed the approach to reporting on the TWG and agreed to ratify the recommendations in relation to officers suspended from duty on full pay continuing to receive the Islands Allowance; and for Islands Expenses to be aligned with Police Scotland policy.

Regulations and determinations 

Scottish Government (SG) officials reported that SG are on track to clear the backlog of regulations by the end of summer 2024. The proposed amendments along with policy notes explaining the changes will be shared with members for consultation. SG will then share links to amended determinations once published.

The update was welcomed by members.

Pensions update 

Members noted the written pensions update provided by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA).

Any other business

The first PNBS annual report is required to be published by the end of March. The draft annual report will be shared with members for feedback prior to publication. 

All members expressed their thanks to Jane Ryder, who is stepping down as Official Side Chair. Jane thanked all members and noted Fiona McQueen will be taking over in the interim period.

Members also thanked Ian Florence for all his hard work and commitment as he is retiring after more than 30 years in the police service.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 25 June at Atlantic Quay, Glasgow.