Last September, Strathclyde Police Authority appointed Keith Mannings as the organisation's new chief executive. It has been a particularly busy and challenging period since his arrival.
The considerable financial deficit facing the policing budget has compelled the authority, as all other public sector organisations are doing, to look critically at how effective and efficient we are at conducting our business.
One of the chief executive's key challenges has involved a formal review of the police authority's governance and scrutiny arrangements of Strathclyde Police force.
Police authorities throughout Scotland have a central role to play in ensuring the delivery of a policing service that reduces crime and is responsive to the issues that matter to communities and residents throughout Strathclyde.
At a formal meeting of Strathclyde Police Authority members in June, Mr Mannings presented an extensive and detailed paper which critically assessed the authority's governance arrangements and looked at ways the authority can improve how it fulfils its legal obligations.
Authority members are considering the contents of the chief executive's report and will meet again in August to consider the recommendations contained in the review.
It is clear, in the current financial climate, that police authorities have a significantly enhanced role to play in ensuring their forces perform at optimum levels.
Police authorities are subject to rigorous joint inspection from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) and the Accounts Commission under Best Value and Community Planning inspection regimes. Strathclyde Police Authority is scheduled to be inspected by HMICS and Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission in the autumn.
This was also published as the Police Authority's regular monthly "Convener's Column" in the internal "Upbeat" magazine of Strathclyde Police force.
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