Tayside Police and Tayside Joint Police Board Best Value Audit and Inspection
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Tayside Police and Tayside Joint Police Board Best Value Audit and Inspection Prepared for the Accounts Commission and Scottish ministers December 2009 The Accounts Commission The Accounts Commission is a statutory, independent body which, through the audit process, assists local authorities in Scotland to achieve the highest standards of financial stewardship and the economic, efficient and effective use of their resources. The Commission has four main responsibilities: • securing the external audit, including the audit of Best Value and Community Planning • following up issues of concern identified through the audit, to ensure satisfactory resolutions • carrying out national performance studies to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government • issuing an annual direction to local authorities which sets out the range of performance information they are required to publish. The Commission secures the audit of 32 councils and 44 joint boards and committees (including police and fire and rescue services). Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland HMICS operates independently of police forces, police authorities and the Scottish Government and exists to monitor and improve the police service in Scotland. HMICS does this on behalf of the Scottish public by: • monitoring, through self-assessment and inspection, how effectively the police service in Scotland is fulfilling its purpose and managing risk • supporting improvement by identifying good practice, making recommendations and sharing our findings in order to achieve better outcomes for Scotland’s communities • providing advice to Scottish ministers, police authority and joint board members and police forces and services. Even though HMICS is independent of the Scottish Government, ministers can call upon the Inspectorate to undertake particular pieces of work. Audit Scotland is a statutory body set up in April 2000 under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. It provides services to the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. Together they ensure that the Scottish Government and public sector bodies in Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public funds. Tayside Police and Tayside Joint Police Board 1 Contents Commission findings Part 2. Tayside Police Force Page 2 performance assessment Page 21 Introduction Page 4 Delivering policing plan outcomes Page 22 Summary Page 7 Part 3. Improvement recommendations Part 1. Corporate assessment Page 25 Page 10 Improvement agenda Vision and strategic direction Page 26 Page 11 Appendix 1. Expectations of police Governance and accountability authorities Page 12 Page 27 Partnership working and Appendix 2. The National community engagement Intelligence Model Page 15 Page 28 Performance management and improvement Page 16 Use of resources Page 17 Equalities Page 19 Sustainability Page 20 2 Commission findings Commission findings 3 1. The Commission notes that this the primary responsibility for obtaining is the first joint Best Value audit and the necessary support rests with inspection report to be produced the joint board. Accordingly, as a by the Controller of Audit and Her matter of urgency, the joint board Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary. needs to discuss this position with We welcome this joint approach the constituent councils and secure and its significant contribution to resources which are independent of more effective and streamlined the councils and the police force to scrutiny. We accept this report and support it in its role. acknowledge the co-operation and assistance provided to the joint audit 6. We look forward to receiving and inspection team by the Convener an improvement plan from the and other elected members of Tayside joint board which addresses the Joint Police Board, the clerk to the improvement agenda set out in the board, and the chief constable and joint audit and inspection report and officers of Tayside Police. the weaknesses identified. The plan should focus on the board’s role in 2. The report is wide ranging and working with the chief constable to assesses the extent to which drive continuous improvement in Tayside Police Joint Board and police services. It should set out how the Police Force are meeting their the board will improve members’ best value duties. In accordance understanding and engagement in with the Commission’s statutory best value and community planning, responsibilities, these findings relate support its members through training only to the best value audit of the and development and strengthen links joint board. with the constituent councils. 3. We find that while the joint 7. It is clear to the Commission that board is strongly committed to part of the reason for the board not supporting the chief constable and fully exercising its role arises from a that working relationships between lack of clarity about the respective the board and the police force are responsibilities and expectations good, the board is not meeting the of the joint board and the chief objective of best value, namely constable. The Commission believes continuous improvement in its duties this issue may not be unique to and responsibilities which include Tayside Police Joint Board and if this effectively contributing to setting is the case will recommend that the priorities for the police service Scottish Government, in consultation and holding the chief constable with COSLA (Convention of Scottish to account. Local Authorities) and ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in 4. Board members have an important Scotland), should consider the existing and distinct role in the governance guidance and its interpretation of police services and until there is to ensure the specific duties and clearer understanding and application responsibilities of boards and board of that role the board will not achieve members are expressed clearly. We the necessary shift in focus required believe further clarification of the to attain best value. guidance, as may be required, would assist police authorities to self-assess 5. Elected members appointed by the their progress in achieving their constituent councils to the joint board statutory responsibilities for best value need more support to improve their and community planning. knowledge and understanding of their role as board members and to support them in core activities, including setting direction and priorities and scrutinising performance. However, 4 Introduction Introduction 5 This joint report is made by the but allowing them local discretion The key objectives of this joint audit Controller of Audit to the Accounts on the methods and routes they and inspection were to: Commission under section 102(1) of use. The Scottish Government has the Local Government (Scotland) Act issued further guidance for police • assess the extent to which the 1973, and by Her Majesty’s Inspector authorities and forces. This guidance Tayside Joint Police Board and of Constabulary (HMIC) under section includes Justice Department Circular Tayside Police are meeting 33 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967. 11/2003 Best Value Guidance and their duties under the Local the Guidance for Members of Police Government in Scotland Act 2003, The Local Government in Scotland Act Authorities and Joint Boards, and complying with Scottish 2003 introduced new statutory duties June 2007. Government guidance relating to Best Value and Community Planning. Its provisions apply to local The scope of Best Value and • agree planned improvements with authorities, including police authorities, Community Planning is broad and the the local authorities, force and the and require specifically that: guidance and statute indicate that a board, to be reviewed by external successful police authority will: auditors and HMICS on an • councils and police authorities ongoing basis. secure best value (defined as • work in tandem with the chief achieving continuous improvement constable to develop a clear set As Best Value and Community in the performance of functions) of priorities that respond to the Planning encompass a wide variety of needs of the community in both activities, it is not realistic to audit or • police authorities and chief the short and longer term inspect everything in depth. For this constables participate in the reason we plan our detailed work in community planning process. • be organised to support the two ways: delivery of these priorities The 2003 Act also amended the audit • Where possible we draw on arrangements set out in the Local • meet, and clearly demonstrate the findings of other scrutiny Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to that it is meeting, the community’s processes, such as the work cover Best Value and gave powers to needs carried out by other inspectorates. the Accounts Commission to examine Best Value in police authorities. • operate in a way that drives • We select certain aspects of the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of continuous improvement in all its performance of the force and the Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) activities. board for detailed investigation. has a statutory duty under section We use a wide range of sources, 33 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 Similarly, a successful police force will: including the force and board’s to inspect police forces and common own assessments of their police services, and to report to • work with its partners and the performance, reports issued Scottish ministers on their state and police authority/joint board to following external audit