Assurance Reporting

ASSURANCE REPORTING
POLICE SCOTLAND CHANGE PORTFOLIO UPDATE
Members considered the report which provided a summary of current work undertaken within the Police Scotland Change Portfolio. KMacIver provided a summary of the paper, highlighting a number of key points within the report.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members noted this was the final report presented to the Committee as oversight of change will in future be considered by the Resources Committee.
• Members sought assurance that all change requests are being reported at the right time and heard Police Scotland maintain an overview of all change requests which are shared monthly internally and with SPA colleagues.
• Members sought comment on the impact and risks that current budget pressures bring to change activity. KMacIver confirmed there was an increased risk of non-delivery, but no projects have been stopped. Members were informed the main challenge will be if are any new requests for additional work arise, or if resource reduces. Members were assured that financial pressures were built into the planning for all projects.
• KMacIver informed the Committee that Superintendent Graham Binnie, the new Programme Lead for DESC, took up post on 7 November.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

ICO AUDIT OF POLICE SCOTLAND
Members considered the report which provided an initial update following a consensual audit undertaken by ICO in respect of Police Scotland’s processing of personal data. DCCSpeirs introduced the report, highlighting it was a technical audit that goes into significant detail, which has resulted in a number of recommendations. Approximately 30 will be concluded by the end of the calendar year. Kerry Harvey highlighted a number of key points within the report.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members heard ICO monitor implementation and will conduct a further review in March 2024, with an interim progress discussion scheduled for December 2023.
• The Committee Chair requested a progress report be brought back to the next Committee meeting.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.
• AGREE the following action:
Progress report be brought back to the next meeting.
20231107-AUD-002

BEST VALUE – SPA CORPORATE
Members considered the report which provided an update on the results from the Authority’s annual Best Value self-assessment. JMcNellis highlighted a number of key points within the report.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members acknowledged the amount of work undertaken and agreed documenting progress was important.
• Members questioned if there were any barriers to being able to implement actions, and heard the main barrier was resources, albeit this is not a current concern within the SPA workforce governance team. Members were assured every area is risk assessed to help determine how and when they are progressed.
• Members sought further comment on why performance and equalities were chosen for a deep dive and heard whilst other areas have room for improvement, it was felt there was more value in looking at best practice across performance and equalities.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

SPA PUBLIC DUTIES
Members considered the report which provided an update of the findings and proposed recommendations for improvement from the recent SPA self-assessment on the Authority’s compliance with public body duties. Jackie McKelvie (JMcKelvie) highlighted a number of key points within the report.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members heard SPA will engage with the Scottish Public Information Forum to gain insight on what other organisations do, to ensure SPA’s approach and progress is appropriate.
• Members sought further comment on the impact assessments relating to the Islands Duty recommendations. JMcKelvie confirmed more work was required on impact assessment as there was not a lot of evidence of strategic decision making relating to policing issues that affect the Islands. SPA intend to work with Police Scotland to address non-compliance, and develop a process where issues are brought to Authority in a timely manner to help inform decision making.
• JMcKelvie confirmed Forensic Services are included by default on anything which comes under SPA Public Duties.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.