Police Negotiating Board for Scotland meeting: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

Chair

Lisa Blackett, Independent

Official Side

Chris Brown, Scottish Police Authority
Lynn Brown, Police Scotland
Elizabeth Hossack, Police Scotland
Jackie Kydd, Scottish Police Authority
Ewen Logie, Police Scotland
John MacLean, Deputy Official Side Secretary
Donna Turnbull, Scottish Government

Staff Side

Stewart Carle, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
Gordon Cumming, 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
Emma-Louise Richardson, Scottish Police Federation
Lorna Robertson, Scottish Police Federation

Secretariat

Scott McNeil, Independent (note)

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted apologies. Members then gave brief introductions.

Minutes from previous meeting on 19 June 2025 

Members approved the minutes of the previous meeting for publication. The Secretariat will inform the Sides once the minutes are published.

Pay agreement 2025-26 and 2026-27

The Chair congratulated the Sides on reaching agreement on pay noting the hard work, commitment and positive approach from all involved. The Chair reflected on the significant progress in addressing areas for improvement identified by members earlier in the year and the impact this had on negotiations including:

• Commitment from both Sides to deliver a reduced negotiating period
• Setting up of regular meetings between the Sides which have continued following the pay agreement
• Improved communications from both Sides which has provided clarity for all 
• Published updates on the PNBS website providing further consistency of messaging 

The Chair then invited the views of members on the negotiations and what could be learned for the future. The Staff Side highlighted the positive approach to the process from both Sides resulting in genuine negotiations. They recognised the importance of the regular meetings with the Official Side which will continue, and acknowledged the improved communications and the positive impact this had. They noted that this outcome demonstrates that PNBS is an effective body and the need to maintain this and continue to improve.

Building on this, the Staff Side aim is for the pay agreement to be reached prior to 1 April each year. The substantial improvements in the approach to negotiations has built trust and a platform for future years which encourages both Sides to be ambitious on what they are trying to achieve for policing in Scotland.

The Official Side echoed the views of the Staff Side, noting the learnings from negotiations the previous year and highlighting the importance of regular communication both between the Sides and within each Side. They recognised the success of collective bargaining in delivering a positive agreement and the need to retain learnings and continue to improve. The Official Side also highlighted the significant work through the Technical Working Group to deliver a sustainable outcome on the non-pay elements of the agreement.

The Official Side support the ambition to have agreement in place by 1 April and note this is an opportunity to develop a more strategic approach to pay in the future, building on the efforts of both Sides and the outcome of the Fraser of Allander Institute research.

The Sides then turned to implementing the agreement. Members acknowledged the significant efforts on all Sides and in all member organisations to ensure officers received the increased pay in their September salary and that relevant materials were updated to provide clarity to officers. The Sides noted that discussions are ongoing in relation to reaching agreement on the entitlement to mileage on a rest day with less than 18 days’ notice prior to 1 April 2025. 

Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) report: Stage 2

Staff Side and Official Side representatives have continued to meet with FAI as they look to agree the scope of the Stage 2 research. The Sides anticipate an update from FAI in early October with stakeholder interviews to follow. The Sides emphasised the importance of ensuring all agreed on the methodology in advance, and to allow FAI the time to carry out the research effectively and provide a report which delivers on requirements. The Sides emphasised this work would be instrumental in informing future negotiations and a strategic approach to pay, and are committed to commencing a working group following publication of the report.

Review of the outcome of the Strategic Commitment Working Group (SCWG)

This item was added to the agenda following a request from members to consider whether the SCWG delivered on aims as agreed as part of the 2022 pay settlement. Members noted that the key elements (justice/health) were now a focus of the Police Scotland 2030 Vision and three-year plan and that the FAI research would consider the length of the working week. Members agreed the SCWG was no longer required. However members also noted the importance of logging and tracking actions and agreements to ensure that there is a record and aware of progress. The PNBS Secretariat will draft a tracking log and share with members.

Technical Working Group (TWG)

TWG members reported that the last meeting of the TWG was on 20 June. This was a constructive meeting with a key action to incorporate agreed changes to the PNBS handbook. Additional meetings were postponed due to operational priorities and pay implementation. However work has continued with nine circulars agreed and published since the last PNBS and plans in place to conduct a full review of the PNBS handbook. With the pay agreement now in place, members plan to schedule 2026 TWG meetings and provide a report on issues and progress ahead of each PNBS meeting.

Regulations and determinations update

The Scottish Government are finalising determinations with the aim to share with the Sides for consultation in the coming weeks. Determinations in relation to this year’s pay agreement are also expected be shared with Sides in the next week. Officials noted that determinations which require legislative change may now not be finalised until after the Scottish elections, however work continues in the background to ensure prepared and can move quickly.

Pensions update

Members acknowledged the update provided by the SPPA. Members who attend the SPPA Police Pension Board again highlighted concerns about the operation of the Board and noted they have written directly to Ministers and the SPPA Chief Executive to raise these. Separately, the Staff Side have written to Ministers with concerns about police pensions more broadly including delays in resolving issues and the impact this is having on both current and retired officers. 

Following the previous meeting, the SPA wrote directly to Staff Side members of the Police Pension Board and emphasised that direct engagement with SPA as the employer would be the appropriate route for concerns about the SPPA rather than a join letter from the PNBS.

Any other business

No matters raised.

Date of next meeting

The next PNBS meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 18 February 2026 in Victoria Quay, Edinburgh.