SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION
NORTHERN
BRANCH
Minutes of the Annual General
Meeting held within The Thistle Hotel, Inverness on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday
4th March 2004.
1.
MEMBERS PRESENT
John Finnie (Secretary) Alan Drummond (Chairman)
John
Crawford Peter MacPhee (Day 1)
Derrick
Cronie David
Miller
Graeme
Ednie Calum
Steele
Alex
Forbes Callum
Scott
Hamish Grace Malcolm Taylor (Day 2)
John Jones-Davies Darren Williams
Reay MacKay
2.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Archie
Henderson -Duty Commitments
Alistair
McBean -Training Course
Malcolm
Taylor, Day 1- Duty Commitments
Peter
MacPhee, Day 2 - Duty Commitments
Donald
Ross - Duty Commitments
3.
OPENING OF MEETING
The Chairman welcomed everyone present and advised
on the matters to be considered by the separate Boards prior to the formal
commencement of the Joint Meeting.
The Meeting reconvened at 11.30 at which time the
Chairman reported that David Ross, Assistant Secretary had submitted his
resignation from the Joint Branch Board.
On behalf of all Members present, and the Membership across the Force,
the Chairman asked that the Minute records thanks to David for his tremendous
efforts in recent years, wishing him well for the future.
Following discussion, the Chairman indicated that
any vote on a replacement would be postponed until the following morning
thereby allowing the fullest possible consultation.
10am 4th – The Chairman called for
nominations for the post of Assistant Secretary. Calum Steele was proposed by Graeme Ednie and seconded by
Derrick Cronie and, there being no other nominations was duly elected.
Calum thanked the Board for their support assuring
them of his best efforts on behalf of the Membership.
4. OFFICE BEARERS FOR
SEPARATE BOARDS
Constables’
Board -
Chairman Graeme Ednie
-
Vice Chairman Calum Steele
- Secretary John
Finnie
- Assistant Secretary Reay MacKay
Sergeants’
Board -
Chairman John
Jones-Davies
-
Vice Chairman Hamish Grace
-
Secretary Archie
Henderson
-
Assistant Secretary John Crawford
Inspectors’
Board -
Chairman Alan Drummond
-
Vice Chairman Donald Ross
- Secretary David
Miller
- Assistant Secretary Peter
MacPhee
5. DELEGATES/ RESERVES TO
THE JOINT CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Constables’
Central Committee Delegate - John
Finnie
Reserves - Calum Steele
Graeme Ednie
Sergeants’
Central Committee Delegate - John
Jones-Davies
Reserves - Hamish
Grace
Archie
Henderson
Alex
Forbes
Inspectors’
Central Committee Delegate - Alan
Drummond
Reserves
- Derrick Cronie
Callum
Scott
Peter
MacPhee
6. DELEGATES/ OBERSERVES TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Constables’
Board Delegates - Graeme
Ednie
John Finnie
Calum
Steele
Reay
MacKay
Observers - Alistair McBean
Malcolm
Taylor
Darren
Williams
Sergeants’
Board Delegates
- John
Crawford
Alex
Forbes
John
Jones-Davies
Hamish
Grace
Inspectors’ Board Delegates - Derrick
Cronie
Alan
Drummond
Peter
MacPhee
David
Miller
Observers
- Donald
Ross
7. ADOPTION OF STANDING ORDERS
The Adoption of Standing Orders were
proposed by Derrick Cronie and seconded by Reay MacKay.
8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The Minutes of the Last Meeting were
approved by Calum Steele and seconded by John Crawford.
9. TREASURER’S REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET
The Balance Sheet was
circulated to Members and, following a verbal report from the Treasurer, and
formally approved.
10. MATTERS ARISING
10.01 Legal Advice / Assistance
1. Ongoing
Legal Cases
A DRAFT Aide
Memoire Cards for Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) has been prepared and
circulated to Representatives and the Force’s Firearms Sergeant for comment.
An
Aide Memoire Card for Federation Representatives dealing with Post-shooting
Incidents is still being compiled.
The Force
has been supplied with a copy of the Federation’s Legal Opinion on the Restraint
by Police Officers for the Administration of Medication to Mentally Disturbed
Patients and a reply is awaited regarding the clarification sought
regarding vicarious liability and a risk assessment.
The
Secretary outlined the background to the recent Criminal Appeal Hearing which
upheld a defence submission regarding compensation awarded to a Northern
Officer.
10.02 Police Pay and Conditions
1. PNB (Police Negotiating Board) and Other
Circulars
03/15 Guidance on
compensation for officers recalled from annual leave or required to work on
days scheduled for annual leave.
03/16 Amendments to the
SPP Scheme
03/17 The
implementation of new pay scales for federated ranks
03/18 Superintendents
pay and conditions
03/19 Joint guidance
document for police authorities and senior
force
managers on the key area of managing ill-health, including guidance on medical
appeals
04/01 Appointment of Independent Chair of
the Police Negotiating Board
04/04 Amendment to the
Chief Inspectors pay scale
Scottish Executive Police
Circular 1 of 2004 Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003
Scottish Executive Police
Circular 2 of 2004 The Police and the Disability Discrimination Act
Scottish
Executive Police Circular 3 of 2004 Superintendents Pay and Conditions of
Service
Scottish
Executive Police Circular 4 of 2004 Sexual Offences Act 2003
Scottish
Public Pensions Agency - Police Pensions Circular No 2004/1
Scottish
Public Pensions Agency - Guidance for Police Pension Scheme Medical Appeals
2. Removal Allowance
The Human Resources
Practitioner Group Meeting of 27th January 2004 endorsed revised guidance
on the Force’s application of Removal Allowance.
The guidance included
reference to a current maximum ..
£1,608 in respect of Incident Expenditure, the most
recent sum intimated by PNB.
The Meeting AGREED
that a paper be put to the next Joint Negotiating and Consultative Committee
seeking to have an up rating mechanism put in place. It was further AGREED that the mechanism should be that
presently employed in respect of non-receipted subsistence up-rating i.e. the
percentage increase applied to incidental expenses connected with residential
training establishments.
The issue of reimbursement
of costs associated with the setting up of rental agreements was referred
to the General Secretary whose response was circulated to the Meeting.
It was AGREED that
the Secretary should prepare a motion for the Joint Central Committee, seeking
a legislative change whereby the cost of such rental agreements be met in
instances when the officer occupies police provided accommodation.
3. Regulation 24
- Travelling Time
The Request for
Guidance (RFG) was considered at the January 2004 meeting of the Side
Secretary, however, a written reply is still awaited.
At that meeting, the Joint
Secretaries agreed the General Secretary’s proposal to draft a revised
procedure, including timescales for responses, interim responses and provision
for special RFG meetings when required.
As previously intimated,
in-force discussions on a number of deployment related matters await
clarification from the RFG.
4. Force Reference
Document (FRD) - D7 Deployment and Selection Procedure for Constable,
Sergeants, Inspectors and Chief Inspectors
As agreed at the last
meeting, a further response to the FRD was submitted on 10th December.
The Meeting expressed
disappointment that, notwithstanding, the Board’s support for the revised
procedures, none of it’s suggested minor alterations to improve terminology,
understanding or procedures were taken on board, nor indeed acknowledged.
The Board will continue involvement
with the ad-hoc group considering on-going issues connected with this Policy.
5. Temporary
Transfers
As per
‘3’, this item awaits the response to the Request for Guidance before it can be
progressed.
6. Vetting
The
proposed Force Reference Document on Vetting contains fundamental
changes to Members’ terms and conditions.
It is likely to be on the agenda of the next Management Services Group
Meeting at which time it’s hoped the Force Executive will already have decided to
accept the Federation view that this is a national, rather than Force issue
which should properly be considered by the Police Advisory Board for Scotland.
If,
however, the Force decides to proceed with the proposals then appropriate
action will be instituted.
7. ACPOS Substance
Misuse Policy
Nothing
to report
8.
Implementation of New Pay Scales for
Federated Ranks
PNB
Circular 03/17, circulated to all Representatives, covers the implementation
of new pay scales for federated ranks, including the revised constables’ pay
scale, effective from 1 April 2004 and the agreed assimilation procedure
The Force
Payroll Section will be enacting the Circular’s content a copy of which, like
all PNB Circulars, is available in the Circular Section of www.northernpolicefederation.com.
9. Possible
Pay Anomaly Inspectors and Chief Inspectors
Following
the excellent assistance of the Force’s Payroll Section, a detailed list of
officers falling into the categories that MAY have been wrongly interpreted for
pay-progression purposes has been passed to our National Office to await
further consideration.
10.
Fitness Testing
Nothing to report.
11. Disability Discrimination Act 1995
A copy of
Scottish Executive Police Circular 2 of 2004 re The Police and Disability
Discrimination Act was circulated to all Representatives and includes a
brief introduction to the changes to disability legislation that will affect
the Police Service from October 2004.
12. Pensions
i) Pensions
Review
The
Announcement of the consultation process into proposed changes to the Police
Pension Scheme were reproduced on www.northernpolicefederation.com
with reinforcement that The Government have reassured current officers
that their existing pension rights on retirement will not be affected.
ii) Additional Voluntary Contributions
In order
to assist Members gain the fullest information on Additional Voluntary
Contributions the following direct link has been created www.standardlife.co.uk
The Secretary cautioned Members that, under the Financial
Services legislation, Representatives are precluded from providing ‘financial
advice’ to their Members.
13. Pay of the non Federated Ranks
Member’s
attention was drawn to the criteria laid out in the most recent PNB circular
regarding the pay of the Superintending ranks which introduced the concept of post-related
allowances. It is also introduced that
Chief Officer ranks are to have bonus payments paid in respect of their
“performance”.
14.
‘30+ Scheme’
A
detailed review of the trial schemes operating in England and Wales was
produced and circulated to representatives.
Despite much publicity and promotion, to date, only 47 officers in
England and Wales have elected to “take advantage” of the scheme.
10.03 Health and Safety
1.
Working Time Regulations (WTR)
i)
Workforce Agreement
The
Workforce Agreement was renewed for a further 12 month period. The Secretary has provided a detailed report
to the Head of Operations of the widespread disregard of the Agreement, and
related Police Regulations highlighting the following, the duty roster on
COE fails to comply with the regulations and show the times at which is
scheduled daily period of duty are to begin and end; local monitoring of
rostering and WTR is either not taking place, is ineffective or not being acted
upon; there appears to be no central monitoring of rostering whilst central
auditing of the WTR is ineffective and there must be at least an 11 hour
gap between every rostered tour of duty regardless of the shift work.
Members
AGREED that it is very disappointing that compliance with legislation is
perceived as being driven by the Federation alone rather than jointly with
Force Managers.
Following
lengthy discussions it was AGREED that the Secretary continue to liaise with
the Head of Operations regarding WTR.
Securing the Health and Safety Executive’s view on the minimum period of
11 hours between rostered tours and the Forces’ on call arrangements may also
be considered.
The
Chairman advised that it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure compliance
with the legislation.
ii)
Students at the Scottish Police College
Clarification
is still awaited regarding the definitive position of Northern students at the
Scottish Police College and compliance of the WTR.
Not
withstanding the specific instruction of the Chief Constable, the Scottish
Police College continues to place unreasonable demands on students and, should
early resolution not result, consideration will require to be given to
instituting appropriate proceedings.
2.
Inspections
As agreed
at the last meeting, the Secretary wrote the Chief Constable highlighting
the difficulties with the inspection process and the failure to comply with
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Regulations. Revised procedures for inspections, and reports thereon, have
been agreed and Force wide PAT Testing has taken place.
3.
Infection Control
Occupational Health’s attention has been drawn to the issue of the
prevalence of tetanus amongst intravenous drug users and will form part of
their ongoing consideration of infection control.
4. Processes
The
Branch Board are once more actively involved with the Force Safety Strategy
Group.
Inspection
reports are now copied to Estates and Area Commanders who provide ‘Action
Plans’ which form part of their Performance Review.
The
Secretary reminded the Meeting of the importance of ensuring a flow of
information from Area Management meetings to Human Resource Practioner Group
and, if required, onwards to the appropriate Service Group.
Arrangements
whereby the Federation Office is advised by Area Commanders of on-duty injuries
appears to be working satisfactorily.
10.04 Special Constabulary
Following
discussions it was AGREED that a paper addressing issues such as training
deployment and future plans be submitted for discussions by the Joint
Negotiating and Consultative Committee.
10.05 Web Page
The Web
Page, www.northerpolicefederation.com,
averaged over 11,000 “hits” during each of the last 3 months.
10.06 Legal
Expenses Scheme
The
Secretary advised the Meeting that the Legal Expense Scheme, presently run by
Capita, is due for renewal next month.
Notwithstanding
some administrative difficulties with claims, the Broker’s advice is that,
given assurances about improved procedures, the Scheme should be renewed for a
further year.
The
Meeting AGREED to retain the existing supplier for a further year.
The
Secretary reported on the Financial Services Authority Regulation of
Insurances and indicated that once further information was available
regarding the Branch’s administration of the various schemes a further report
would be made available to Members.
The
Health Scheme, which provides cash back for Dentistry, sight tests,
physiotherapy, and hospital stays, was originally offered to the Membership in
September 2002. It has been proposed to
re-offer participation with the waiving of the six month qualification
period.
The
Meeting AGREED to a relaunch the scheme at a mutually convenient time.
10.07 Annual Conference
i) Conference Arrangements Committee
Derrick
Cronie provided a comprehensive report on Conference timetabling and motions.
ii)
Annual Conference Motions
All
Conference motions were discussed and no amendments proposed.
10.08 Officer Numbers
As agreed
at the last meeting, the Secretary obtained detailed papers from Lothian and
Borders Police regarding funding arrangements for additional officers. The Secretary also reported on the financial
position of Northern Constabulary, as outlined at the Policy Forum on 3rd
February 2004, and the wealth of information regarding officer numbers across
Scotland.
In light
of the time taken to secure this information, the fact that the coming years
budget is already set and the next round of the Comprehensive Spending Review
due, the Meeting AGREED not to progress the issue of additional areas of
funding at this time.
11.
NEW BUSINESS
11.1 Joint Branch Board Grievance Procedure
The
Secretary advised that whilst the Branch Board had detailed policies for it’s
staff, including a grievance procedure, no such arrangement existed for the
Membership or indeed Representatives.
The
Meeting AGREED that given officials were subject to a vigorous electoral
process in addition to which ‘no confidence motions’ could be tabled that
existing arrangements were satisfactory.
11.2 Occupational Health
The
Secretary advised of disquiet voiced to him regarding the length of time taken
to secure appointments with the Force Medical Advisor.
Discussion
took place regarding the benefits of Private Health Care being utilised to
speed officers’ return to duty. The
Secretary advised that the Occupational Health Provider, in conjunction with
the Area Commanders, had utilised this provision on a number of occasions.
The
Meeting AGREED that the Secretary write to the Head of Human Resources
outlining Me
