Police Negotiating Board: annual report 2021 to 2022

Part 2

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 Scottish Police Consultative Forum (SPCF) continues to be a useful vehicle for discussions and scoping out of issues that may then be brought to the PNB for completion. The SPCF itself has developed over this year to become a more useful part of the structures available to discuss policing in Scotland generally. In particular, the work of the short life working group to engage with Scottish Government officials around the Dame Elish Angiolini Review has shown the usefulness of the SPCF in offering flexible space for discussion, reflection and advice, which I believe has been appreciated by Scottish Government officials in this area.

3.3 I would also commend the work of members of the Technical Working Group who have progressed a large number of topics and questions, many of them complex and potentially disruptive, with skill and alacrity and in so doing important parts of officers' terms and conditions have been improved. The work of representatives of both Sides is admirable.

3.4 Progress in the discussions around the main Staff Pay Claim this year has again been slow and frustrating for both sides. It is my view that both sides have again been frustrated through the inability for either side to identify the main financial parameters for bargaining. The general economic situation in the country and the uncertainties over public sector funding add particular difficulties for a sector where the pay bargaining arrangement comes early in the collective bargaining year. However, where financial parameters cannot be identified within budgets, any public sector bargaining process is severely limited. As I have said previously, both Sides of the PNB are fortunate to have skilled and experienced negotiators in their leadership but these assets are unable to function without basic financial information. Failure by government to provide such financial information timeously undermines the bargaining process and this needs to be addressed in future years.

3.5 As has become too regular an occurrence, I must again 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 aware that Scottish Government recognises the need for this matter to be addressed soon.

3.6 Work has begun on the review of this iteration of the PNB, (functioning only on behalf of officers in Scotland), and I believe there is an encouraging majority view among the stakeholders that this review should proceed timeously. In particular, the future of the SPCF needs to be addressed in order to capitalise on the unique role that that organisation can offer in offering advice to Scottish Government Ministers on policing matters.

3.7 I am again grateful for our link with officials from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) through the direct involvement of SPPA personnel in meetings of the PNB, which provides very useful information on related matters. Finally, in all this process, I am indebted to our Independent Secretary Ian Bowie and other colleagues with the Police Division for their support.

Ian McKay

Independent Chair

Police Negotiating Board Scotland