How we are looking at ways to improve

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.

Primary schools update

While Glasgow was initially asked with all of Scotland's 32 councils to propose one school in each local authority for development last autumn, the city was eventually offered half the funding for three new schools from the Scottish Futures Trust, as mentioned in an earlier post.

This is an update I received today from the Council's Education Services:


Scottish Futures Trust - First Phase (Primary Schools Building Programme)

As you will be aware the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is the independent company established by the Scottish Government to deliver public infrastructure investment.

Prioritising options within councils is challenging as many factors can be evaluated. Clear benefits in one proposal may not be as immediately clear in others; there are also objective and subjective elements involved in most selection processes. Glasgow City Council considered the following factors in relation to our proposals:

• Roll - this ensured that the number of children who would benefit from inclusion in the project was factored in;
• Occupancy/Efficiency - this was included in order that an appropriate weighting was given to operationally inefficient establishments, i.e. those with low occupancy rates;
• Condition of building - most of the establishments considered are of roughly equivalent condition; however, where there were measurable differences due cognisance was given;
• Suitability of site - this in effect considered the deliverability of the project i.e. timescale, site topography and cost.

In addition to this, there was further consideration of: maintenance backlog, mid-life upgrade cost and the Disability Discrimination Act e.g. accessibility adaptations and how readily achievable they would be.

After due consideration, the Council identified three new build replacement projects for inclusion in the first phase. The establishments involved were identified on the basis of their declining condition, large school rolls, and importance to community cohesion:

1. Garrowhill Primary School

2. Glendale Primary School, including a co-located Gaelic medium primary
The above two establishments have been identified for inclusion on the basis of suitability, sustainability, community cohesion and that in excess of 400 children for Garrowhill and around 300 children for Glendale would benefit.

3. St Brendan’s Primary School
Glasgow City Council has also committed to using SFT funding along with our own to create a campus which would consist of Garscadden Primary School, Yoker Primary School (including Thirlstane Day Nursery) and St Brendan’s Primary School (including Kelso Nursery). This proposal is to create one non-denominational and one denominational school on a shared site along with an early years centre. This will allow each school to develop its own unique identity and ethos while benefitting from the sharing of facilities such as recreation and leisure. This approach is in line with our School Estate Strategy and would have a significant impact on community cohesion and development. It is proposed that this new facility would be built on the St Brendan’s site.

The SFT have advised that funding is available between 2010/2014 for the above programmes:

• Garrowhill Primary School commences 2010/2011 and the council will receive a maximum funding contribution of £3,824,625.
• Glendale Primary School is anticipated to commence 2012/2013 and the council will receive a maximum funding contribution of £3,983,250.
• St Brendan’s Primary School is anticipated to commence 2013/2014 and the council will receive a maximum funding contribution of £2,796,500.

Terms and conditions apply to the grants, funding contributions will not exceed one half of the out-turn costs of the projects and the level of funding received will be adjusted to take account of any movements in inflation.

Some additional information:

• Garrowhill Primary School - current roll 413
• Glendale Primary School - current roll of 288
• Garscadden Primary School, Yoker Primary School (including Thirlstane Day Nursery) and St Brendan’s Primary School (including Kelso Nursery) - current rolls at Garscadden Primary School 195, Yoker Primary School 123 and St Brendan’s Primary School 193

The current position is that we are working on developing Project 1 (Garrowhill) including how to design/fund the Early Years aspect of it. The SFT process is unlike others whereby we are now developing designs and detailed costs after projects are approved in principle.

At this stage I would anticipate that papers will be presented to the Executive Committee for approval when we know what the final design/cost implications are. The onsite Development and Regeneration Services works at Garrowhill this Summer will inform this paper. The intention is to progress Project 1 (Garrowhill) and then move to Project 2 (Glendale) etc.

Staff and Parent Councils have been advised of the current position and will be kept advised of progress.

Police freeze recruitment

Strathclyde Police has announced it will freeze recruitment for both police officers and police staff. The freeze on support staff takes immediate effect, while the recruitment of officers will be suspended after the current intake of 65 probationary officers enter the Scottish Police College this month.

A planned intake of 100 probationary officers to the College between August and October will now not go ahead and all of those affected are being informed of the decision. Thirty of those who have completed the recruitment process will now be placed in an ‘approved for appointment’ pool and may be called upon if and when suitable vacancies arise.

Strathclyde Police currently has 8,038 officers which it pays for out of its own budget. Taking into account officers who are paid for by other bodies - such as the community planning partnerships led by councils such as Glasgow - this figure rises to 8,410.

This decision was taken by the force as a result of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding public sector budgets and has very clearly become an urgent human resources issue impacting on management of that budget by the force.

It directly follows Scotland's senior police meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last week, when Kenny MacAskill stated that a reduction of up to 10% was now expected next year from Scottish policing budgets, substantially more than was planned and discussed previously with the Scottish Government.

This is an obvious impact of the statement by the Deputy First Minister indicating that Scottish Ministers are "protecting health spending by passing on Barnet consequentials". That must mean bigger cuts in funding for police and local government.

A recruitment freeze had already been implemented in other Scottish forces but this significant increase in the savings target for the coming financial year placed a pressing need on the Strathclyde force to act more swiftly than anticipated on a range of issues.

Restrictions on recruitment were mentioned as a key future measure in managing the impact of savings at meetings of Strathclyde Police Authority over recent months and this had effectively become the case for civilian support staff across Strathclyde Police. Unions were also aware it would be developed as a means of protecting services and jobs in the face of significant cuts, given that local authorities had taken similar steps.

Following my election in April as Police Authority convener, I recently met with UNISON and Strathclyde Police Federation. I recognise how vitally important it is that all unions representing support staff and police officers are informed and consulted by the force as this work develops further.

The prospect of a recruitment freeze was also discussed with senior police as an aspect of the force’s “Change to Improve” service reform programme, informed by the direct experience of the Police Authority's elected members with recruitment freezes already applying in a number of councils across the Strathclyde area.

I met the Chief Constable a few hours after the recruitment freeze was announced publicly and we discussed the context for the decision as outlined above along with other measures to meet the necessary savings for balancing our budget in coming years.

We will clearly be discussing the impact in some detail across the Authority at future meetings. Ideally there should have been time for us to consider this more fully prior to the announcement, but the force understandably felt there was a pressing need to act earlier than anticipated.

I welcome the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable showing leadership in difficult times, by opting today to forego performance bonuses worth over £25,000 and £16,000 each despite their entitlement.

Strathclyde Police is not immune from the financial crisis facing the public sector and the reality of the looming budget deficit means there is little option but to freeze recruitment at this stage.

The Police Authority is keen to reassure officers, staff and the public that every possible measure is being taken to protect services in addressing the severe financial pressures we face.

Ideas for a fairer Scotland

Last year I was elected in a postal ballot to represent Labour Party members from Glasgow South and Glasgow South West constituencies on our Scottish Policy Forum.

The road to the 2011 manifesto is well underway. At Scottish Labour conference this October, we will agree the final year policy documents that will form the basis for next May's Scottish Parliament election manifesto. However, it isn’t too late to send in your response to our second year policy consultation.

Due to the General Election, the opportunity to take part in the consultation was extended to Friday 30 July. Constituency parties received paper copies of the consultation document and have been meeting to form their own replies.

To send in your own individual views, please download Ideas for a fairer Scotland and feed in your own response.

Money Matters

Congratulations to Money Matters on celebrating its 20th anniversary in Govan this week.
Managed by local volunteers and delivering money advice in the south west of Glasgow as part of the city's financial inclusion strategy, Money Matters has made a remarkable difference to people's lives since 1990.

Due to increased demand for their services, Money Matters recently moved to larger offices in the former Orkney Street police station, now developed by Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency as a thriving enterprise centre where Govan Law Centre is also now based and providing a vital local service.

Special thanks are due to the leadership of Geraldine Cotter who has also been a great support to key partners locally and across Glasgow in recent years as financial advice became more significant in our wider agenda on mental health. For an appointment or more information please phone 0141 445 5211 or email.