Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority's Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee with an overview of benchmarking activity within SPA Corporate, presenting an overview of activities undertaken and a summary analysis following an initial data exchange with other oversight and public bodies. This paper also provides details of the next steps being taken and areas of focus for the 2024-25.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - 15 August 2024
Date : 15 August 2024
Location : online
Conclusion
Considerable progress has been made to date with our approach to SPA Corporate benchmarking, with a good sized network of participants established, relationships built with those in similar roles elsewhere, analysis carried out to identify our most similar groups in a range of areas, and a substantial amount of information already exchanged between organisations from across the UK and Ireland. It is recognised that this is the first time this has been attempted and that progressing to this stage in the first year is a significant achievement.
From the initial data gathering and analysis, a number of areas were identified as suitable for deeper dives and follow up questions for members of the network. An initial priority have been agreed and is detailed below, both of which link to areas for improvement from our recent HMICS review:
• Board and committee effectiveness: to involve discussions with relevant organisations from Phases 1 and 2 and a potential peer review process. In particular we are interested in how other organisations involve partners in the assessment of committee effectiveness, as well as finding out more about others’ wider committee effectiveness approach.
• Governance and oversight: a mapping and understanding of the governance structure and responsibilities of the board and committees in each organisation.
In addition to these exercises, we will continue to pursue additional organisations to join the network for both policing and non-policing sectors. This is included in the Annual Delivery Plan for 2024-25.
