16 June 2010
MANAGEMENT BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 16 JUNE 2010
CONFERENCE ROOM 1, CROWN OFFICE
Present:
Catherine Dyer, Crown Agent (Chair)
Peter Collings, Deputy Chief Executive
Janice Irvine, Director of Human Resources
Robert Gordon, Non Executive Director
Bill Matthews, Non Executive Director
Morag McLaughlin, Area Fiscal, Lothian and Borders
Lesley Thomson, Area Fiscal, Glasgow
In attendance:
Kate Frame, Head of ICU and CRU
Mark Howells, Director of Finance
John Logue, Head of Policy
Kevin McArthur, Secretary
Sara Shaw, Secretary
Geri Watt, Director of SDD
Apologies :
John Dunn, Deputy Crown Agent
Welcome
1. Catherine Dyer welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies were accepted from John Dunn and Catherine welcomed Scott Pattison to the meeting in his absence.
Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising
3. The minutes of the meeting of 19 May 2010 were approved.
Corporate Reports
4. The meeting noted the usual Performance and Workload papers MB(10)26 (Healthcheck) and MB(10)27 (Target Summary) which provided MB with an overview of the Service's performance against targets and workload and an overall view of the main performance targets from April 2010. During discussion:
a) The meeting noted that performance targets were exceeded again in May;
b) Geri Watt pointed out that the Grampian Area appear to be back on track having met their Sheriff and Jury target in May;
c) The meeting considered and agreed that, given the Take and Implement performance against target is so high, there should be scope for Areas to provide targeted resource to ensuring that all cases over four weeks old which are not marked are dealt with even more expeditiously.
Action: Geri Watt
Risk Management
5. Catherine welcomed Mark Howells to the meeting.
6. Mark Howells introduced paper MB(10)28 which advised the meeting of the latest developments in risk management. During discussion:
a) Mark reported that the new Corporate Risk Register has now been fully populated and that it has been to AFG, ABMs and the Audit Committee;
b) The meeting were advised that all six corporate risks will be reviewed quarterly at AFG. Two of the said risks will be identified for more thorough scrutiny at those meetings;
c) Bill Matthews advised that the Audit Committee are content with the progress COPFS have made on the Risk Register. The meeting agreed that having a member of the Audit Committee present when discussing risk management at AFG would be beneficial;
Action: Secretariat
d) Mark indicated that all Areas have been instructed that a local risk register should be in place by end of the calendar year. The importance of the implementation of these registers and the engagement of Areas in the processes of risk management was acknowledged;
e) The meeting noted that a case level risk management sheet is being developed in the Lanarkshire area. It was agreed that the outcomes of this should be presented to the AFG/ABM meeting for discussion;
Action: Scott Pattison
Finance Update
7. The meeting discussed the financial future for COPFS and possible budget constraints as a result of the imminent UK public spending announcement.
8. The meeting was advised on the work being done by the Workforce Planning Group.
9. Catherine Dyer reported on the recent planning meeting with Justice partners on the way forward in the challenging financial times ahead and work was continuing and would be of benefit across the criminal justice system as a whole.
CISG Update
10. Peter Collings updated the meeting on significant issues arising from the CISG meeting held on Monday 14 June 2010. During discussion:
a) The meeting noted that CISG looked in to outsourcing Health and Safety to a contractor, however, in the current and potential future financial position it was agreed that we should consider improving our delivery of Health and Safety internally;
b) Peter advised that CISG are considering how we can improve the process in which we identify and use expert witnesses;
c) The meeting were advised that the fixed term appointment policy is to be reviewed.
Allocation of Resources to Eurojust
11. Catherine Dyer welcomed Kate Frame to the meeting.
12. Kate Frame introduced paper MB(10)30 which invited MB to consider the future allocation of COPFS resource to Eurojust. During discussion:
a) Kate advised that COPFS has been represented at Eurojust as part of the UK National Team since approximately 2002. Since then the financial landscape has changed and ICU business has grown to such an extent that Kate recommends that this is an appropriate juncture to reconsider the COPFS allocation of resources to Eurojust;
b) Management Board considered the options available and agreed to a change in provision of SPFD resource to allow greater flexibility while ensuring adequate time is spent on Scottish casework. It was also agreed that further work on the benefits of COPFS presence at Eurojust and required resource should be carried out.
SCS and Senior Management Seminars
13. Catherine Dyer introduced paper MB(10)29 which provided MB with a summary of the feedback from the syndicate groups at the SCS Seminar on Friday 28 May 2010 held at the Scottish Prosecution College and sought their agreement on a format and content for the Senior Management Seminar to be held later in the year. During discussion:
a) The meeting noted the feedback from the syndicate groups;
b) Catherine Dyer thanked the presenters and facilitators for their hard work in organising the event;
c) The meeting gave consideration to the content of the senior management seminar to be held later in the year. It was agreed that the financial future for COPFS should be the main focus for discussion;
d) The meeting agreed that the one, large Seminar should be replaced by three, smaller, geographical Seminars to encourage the inclusion of a greater number of managers throughout the Service.
Cadder
14. Scott Pattison provided the meeting with an update on revised guidance issued this week following the Supreme Court's recent considerations as to whether a suspect requires access to a solicitor in order to ensure compliance with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of Cadder v HMA. He advised that our Policy Division are liaising with Justice colleagues on the possible outcomes from the decision due to be published on 20 October 2010.
15. The meeting agreed that further instructions and training should be assessed regularly and provided where necessary. It was acknowledged that some areas have already drafted instructions and it was agreed that SDD should take this forward for the provision of service wide instruction.
Action: Geri Watt
MB Secretariat
16 June 2010