COMMITTEE CHAIRS’ REPORT

Members considered the report which provided an update on business progressed since the last Authority meeting through the:
• Complaints and Conduct Committee
• Exceptional Circumstances Committee
• People Committee
• Policing Performance Committee
• Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee
• Resources Committee

In addition to the written reports, comment was provided on a number of other areas:
• Resources Committee Chair, Grant Macrae (GMacrae), provided a summary of budget monitoring reporting to the Committee since its approval in March 2023. At the latest Committee on 22 September, it was reported that mitigating actions had been agreed by Police Scotland’s Executive Team, however, the management accounts to the end of July 2023 showed the projected overspend had increased to £19.2m, therefore further steps were under consideration. The Resources Committee were informed the operational impact of the proposed £19.2m savings was still being studied, therefore Police Scotland’s Executive Team could not provide assurance it could be delivered within the next six months. As such, GMacrae confirmed the Resources Committee do not have confidence in the delivery of the plan to bring the budget back to a break-even position by 31 March 2024. The Committee acknowledged £19.2m is 1.5% of the expenditure forecast so agree it should be achievable with strong management and tracking. The Committee have requested monthly meetings with the Police Scotland Executive Team and Finance Team to monitor, with outcomes reported to the Authority.
• The People Committee Chair asked when it was likely the budget would be balanced. GMacrae responded that work on mitigating steps and the impact of them would be reported in October to provide a clearer picture.
• Policing Performance Committee, Alasdair Hay, commented that there was a connection between resource outputs and desired outcomes. The Committee were concerned that detection rates and response times were falling in several areas, which Police Scotland stated was caused by a reduction in resources. The Committee recognised that Police Scotland will prioritise high threat, risk and harm areas, but the Committee required further information to better understand what areas will be prioritised.
• People Committee Chair, Fiona McQueen, confirmed the Strategic Workforce Plan and People Strategy would be brought to the next Committee, and thereafter to the Authority in November 2023.

The Board RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.