Our business

• Welcome and Apologies
• Minutes and Action Log from previous meeting
• Commissioner
• Communications
• Training
• Finance
• Any other business

Welcome and Apologies

Apologies 
PC opened the meeting and welcomed all Senior Management Team (SMT) members. Apologies were noted from Irina Wilkie, Communications Manager (IW)

Matters proposed to be considered in private

SMT agreed to consider agenda items 8-17 in private, for the reasons set out on the agenda.

Minutes and Action Log from previous meeting

Draft Minutes 
SMT approved the minutes of the August 2024 meeting.

Action Log

2024/25: AP4 – SMT to provide feedback to IO re content of FOISA report 
Action: complete

2024/25: AP5 – Add footnote to CS Annual Report to explain difference in reporting style for Annual Leave 
Action: complete 

2024/25: AP6 – DPIA’s to be shared with SC for consideration 
Action: complete 

2024/25: AP7 – Schedule meeting with Heads of Departments to review Staff Survey Results 
Action: complete

Commissioner

Update paper 
MM provided a summary of the Commissioner’s update report (circulated in advance), highlighting the following: 

Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry (SBPI) 
Public Inquiry will resume on 1 October 2024. No PIRC witnesses are scheduled to attend this hearing. 

An additional Inquiry statement and second Rule 8 response was submitted from the Commissioner to the Inquiry on 9 September 2024. 

MM advised that Lord Bracadale (Chair of the Inquiry) had met with Deputy First Minister on 5 September to discuss a request from the families of Mr Bayoh to extend the terms of reference to include consideration of the decision by the Lord Advocate not to prosecute. Further update on the Deputy First Minister’s decision will be provided when available, in the meantime, the Inquiry will proceed on the basis of the current timetable with the final hearing in October 2024 and final closing submissions in December 2024. 
  
PECSS Bill 
Response to Criminal Justice Committee’s (CJC) Stage 1 report was submitted on 29 August 2024. 

Update 17/09/2024: notification received that the CJC will consider Stage 2 amendments to the Bill at the meetings scheduled for 2 and 9 October 2024. 

Members noted the update provided.

Communications

Update paper 
PC provided a summary of the Communications update (circulated in advance), highlighting the following: 

PIRC Learning Point 
Publication in Autumn 2024 – potential topics have been identified. Comms team to progress. 

PIRC / PSD Liaison Event 
Liaison event to be hosted at the Police College. Event schedule to be agreed. Attendees will include representatives from PIRC Reviews, Investigations, Admin and Comms along with Police Scotland PSD and Corporate Comms team. 

Members noted the update provided.

Training

Training Update 
SS provided a summary of the Training report for September 2024 (circulated in advance). 

SS advised that staff will shortly receive an internal comms message with a link to an e-learning package that staff are recommended to undertake ahead of the launch of the Oracle system (currently scheduled for 8 October 2024). SS asked all managers present to encourage staff to complete the e-learning package. 

Update 17/09/2024: All staff message circulated. 

EDI Micro e-learning – SS asked all managers present to encourage staff to complete the LearnUpon EDI micro e-learning. 

Appraisal Training – SS advised that Appraisal Training has been scheduled for 19 and 25 September. Training has been offered to all first line managers and will be delivered by Ruth McCallum, HR Officer (RMcC). 

SS reminded members that any training/development identified/requested during the mid-year or year-end appraisal, should be recorded in the appraisal form and the appropriate training request form completed and forwarded to both the identified departmental Training SPOC and Hazel Wyper, Training Coordinator (HW). 

SS advised that HW continues to develop a skills matrix for each role within the organisation. - the matrix will be shared with SMT when available. 

Members noted the updates provided.

Finance

Management Accounts 
LD provided members with a summary of the Management Accounts to the end of August 2024 (circulated in advance). LD highlighted the following:

• Grant in Aid overspend approx. £76k – this is due to late invoices received in July 2024 which were drawn down in August 2024.
• Staffing Costs underspend approx. £47k due to various vacancies and delays in recruitment (vacancies now filled). 
• Running Costs overspend approx. £32k – this is due to in month high value invoices paid in relation to legal costs.
• YTD underspend of approx. £125k

External Audit commenced on 9 September 2024 – Auditors will attend PIRC offices 1-day per week over the next 5-weeks. 

Corporate Services and Finance staff have concluded Oracle (finance) training. 

Members noted the updates provided.

Any other business 
Nil of note.