Northern Police Federation

SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION

NORTHERN BRANCH

Minutes of the 2nd Quarterly Meeting held within The Thistle Hotel, Millburn Road, Inverness on Wednesday 1st June 2005.

1. LIST OF MEMBERS

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Derrick Cronie

D Craig Dale

John Jones-Davies (Vice Chairman)

R Alan Drummond (Chairman)��

Graeme Ednie��

John Finnie (Secretary) ��

Alasdair Goskirk��

Hamish Grace

Angus MacLeod

David Miller

Calum Steele (Assistant Secretary)

Malcolm Taylor - am only

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

John Crawford - duty commitments

Alex Forbes - duty commitments�

Archie Henderson - duty commitments

Alistair McBean - duty commitments

Donald Ross - duty commitments

Callum Scott - duty commitments

Malcolm Taylor - pm, duty commitments

Darren Williams - annual leave

Peter MacPhee - duty commitments

Hamish Grace - duty commitments

3. OPENING OF MEETING

The Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming everyone present expressing disappointment at the very poor attendance.

�� 4.� ADOPTION OF STANDING ORDERS

�� Standing Orders were formally adopted.�

�� 5.� APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

�� The Minutes of the Last Meeting were formally adopted.

6.1�� LEGAL ADVICE/CONDUCT

Due to ACPOS�s continuing failure to conclude discussions on the Aide Memoire Cards for Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs), the Federation have proceeded with printing and allocating the cards.

As a result of a recent incident whereby the Force and the Police Board failed to timeously address an application for legal assistance for police officers, made in terms of Scottish Home and Health Department Police Circular 18/1978, a satisfactory administrative process has now been put in place to prevent a repetition.

6.2 POLICE PAY AND CONDITIONS

In addition to the board�s site www.northerpolicefederation.com Regulations and Determinations can also be found on NOW

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Any Member wishing to access the Members� Section of the national web site, www.spf.org.uk , can obtain a user name and password by e-mailing either john.finnie@northernpolicefederation.com or calum.steele@northernpolicefederation.com .

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The Official Side advised that it was not in a position to fully respond to the Draft On-call Claim at this time.

An adjustment has been made to the appropriate Force Reference Document to ensure compliance with the terms of PNB Circular 01/2, paragraph 4, Compensation related to entitlement to annual leave and a retrospective check of records to ensure no underpayment.� This matter has been satisfactorily concluded.

As advised at the last Meeting, at the invitation of the Head of Operations, the Assistant Secretary held a meeting with operational commanders to address Public Holiday and Annual Leave allocation and associated rostering matters.� The meeting also discussed matters such as standby for court, forthcoming health and safety inspections, time off in lieu, risk assessments and minimum safe staffing levels.� The Secretary advised that he had received highly positive feedback on the meeting.

The Force has been requested to promote the Competency Related Threshold Payments (CRTP) to ensure no eligible officer is not in receipt of the agreed payment.

The Force has been provided with a suggested form of words to end some confusion regarding officers� entitlement to expenses on training courses at Headquarters.

The Force has been provided with detailed comment on its proposed Interim Appraisal Scheme.

The Secretary reported that work by the Force in relation to Salary Placement on Promotion from Sergeant to Inspector was progressing satisfactorily.

The Secretary advised that his recent circulation to all Representatives, a recent news item on the web page and discussions with the Head of Human Resources were all intended to enhance the support offered by the Force, the Federation and colleagues to officers off duty sick or suspended.� The Meeting acknowledged a possible perception issue from the absentee�s part where a Representative is also the line manager, however, AGREED support for colleagues is a matter for everyone.

6.3 POLICE NEGOTIATING BOARD (PNB) Circulars are available @ www.ome.uk.com). and SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE POLICE DIVISION CIRCULARS @ www.spf.org.uk.

6.4 REMOVAL ALLOWANCE

The Secretary and Assistant Secretary have prepared a detailed response to proposed guidance prepared by the Head of Finance and Asset Management and the Meeting AGREED that response should be adopted as the Meeting�s response.

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All Members should reach agreement with their new Service Unit Manager regarding all costs associated with their transfer prior to the move and prior to incurring expense and not hesitate to contact the Federation Office for advice.�

Reimbursement of rental costs associated with relocating has held up following an eleventh hour intervention by ACPO England and Wales who had previously suggested the matter be referred to Scottish PNB Representatives.

�� 6.5 �� PENSIONS

As agreed at the last Meeting, and in order to avoid the debacle that followed the change to housing emoluments in 1994, that the Secretary wrote to the Force confirming whether our Future Members are being forewarned of this highly significant impending changes to their pension arrangements.

Following discussion with the Director of Human Resources, it is apparent that the Official Side of the PNB are not keeping Forces as fully advised of the implications of this significant legislation as our Staff Side are and therefore future recruits are not, and arguably cannot, be fully advised. The Secretary provided detailed information regarding the changes and agreed to share further updates.

It�s understood that, such is the pool of candidates, recruits� packs are no longer being issued by the Force.� The Secretary AGREED to speak with the Director of Human Resources encouraging that as many recruits as possible be engaged prior to the 1st of April 2006.

Scottish Public Pensions Agency � Police Pensions Circular No 2005/3 � The Police Pension Scheme and The Disability Discrimination Act has been issued to Forces.

The Secretary advised the Meeting that his attention had been drawn to some highly inaccurate and morale-sapping pension advice given to attendees at a recent Pre-retiral course at Police Headquarters.

The Secretary arranged for the Welfare Officer to withdraw the advice he�d issued along with an explanation of the correct information.� The Director of Human Resource�s attention was also drawn to the incident and advised of the need for accuracy of advice and compliance with� Financial Services legislation.

6.6 FRD DEPLOYMENT AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

As agreed at the last Meeting the Draft Force Reference Document Deployment and Selection Procedure� was altered to emphasis the need for Members to keep the Force fully up to date on with any relevant information which they believe could affect their deployment.

6.7 VETTING

The Board continue to attend the in-force meetings considering vetting.

Following efforts to have the matter formally, and more appropriately, considered at a national level, the Secretary has arranged for the June meeting of the Police Advisory Board to be advised of ACPOS�s continuing disregard for that forum, and its constituents, as they proceed with this significant issues affecting Members� terms and conditions without deference to the Board.

6.8�� HEALTH AND SAFETY

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The interim Workforce Agreement to cover officers working at the G8 Summit has been signed.

The last Meeting agreed that, when formal agreement was reached at national level, and signed off locally, the same interim Workforce Agreement could be applied to Members not deployed to G8.� Following discussions with senior management it became apparent that further agreement wasn�t required and, following a further round of consultation, it was AGREED, out of meeting, that the status quo would apply to those retained in-force during the period of G8.

The UK Federations designated this week as being when Custody areas throughout the UK would be formally inspected and this process is ongoing within Force.

The Secretary provided a detailed update on the question of uniform and officer safety equipment following which the Meeting AGREED to use the ongoing consultation on the Draft Force Reference Uniforms, Wearing of Body Armour and Officer Safety Equipment to highlight the Board�s position on a number of matters.

The Assistant Secretary gave a detailed resume on the Accident at Work Reports now being received.� The following issues were highlighted;� all bar two of the incidents involved assault by custodies;� basic officer safety guidance is not being followed; concern that an �everyone passes� philosophy means that some officers are being deployed without the necessary skills to protect themselves, their colleagues or the public.

The Meeting AGREED:

� The Board required to be proactive on this matter

� Consideration must be given to the benefits of having an officer safety trainer�s input on Accident Reports

� Officer Safety Training must be standardised and to a high standard

� Representatives should highlight the foregoing at Management Meetings��

6.9 �� JBB CONSTITUTION

The Assistant Secretary reported that, after close examination of the constitution, the only area in which any major changes could be made was with the electoral system.

The Meeting thereafter discussed the relative merits and concerns that could exist with some form of electronic voting.

The Assistant Secretary advised the Board that the force�s computer system was unable to deal with electronic voting but that www.northernpolicefederation.com could be capable. �The Assistant Secretary is to have discussions with Webmasters Ireland, our Web Provider, to explore the possibility further and hopefully develop a �mock� example of how such a process may work, for discussion at the next meeting.

6.10 �� REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

For a variety of reason the Secretary was unable to meet with the internal auditor to discuss administrative matters surrounding the reimbursement of expenses.

Following discussion the Meeting AGREED the Secretary would pursue the following issues with the Head of Finance; increased imprests and increased awareness thereof and greater use of Force credit cards.

�� 6.11 �� CBRN ISSUES

��  Nothing to report.

6.12 �� G8 SUMMIT

The Secretary and Assistant Secretary gave verbal reports on various matters connected with the Summit.

�� 6.13 �� ISLAND GAMES

Following recent advice offered to those making rostering arrangements, anticipated difficulties have been avoided.

7.�� AOCB�

�� There were no items of competent business.

8.�� SECRETARY�S CORRESPONDENCE

The Secretary advised of a letter of thanks for continuing support, received from the Pipe Band and two others from retired officers for assistance given.

9. �� TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be the Third Quarterly Meeting which is scheduled to take place at The Glenmoriston Hotel, Ness Walk, Inverness commencing at 10am on Thursday 1st September 2005.

10.�� CLOSURE OF MEETING

The Chairman closed the Meeting by thanking everyone for their contribution and in turn was thanked in the customary manner.

Alan Drummond�� John Finnie

JBB Chairman�� JBB Secretary