21 April 2010
MANAGEMENT BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 21 APRIL 2010
CONFERENCE ROOM 1, CROWN OFFICE
Present:
Catherine Dyer, Crown Agent & Chief Executive (Chair)
Peter Collings, Deputy Chief Executive
Robert Gordon, Non Executive Director
Janice Irvine, Director of Human Resources
Morag McLaughlin, Area Procurator Fiscal, Lothian & Borders
Lesley Thomson, Area Procurator Fiscal, Glasgow
In Attendance:
Mark Howells, Director of Finance
John Logue, Head of Policy
Kevin McArthur, Secretary
Sara Shaw, Secretary
Jennifer Veitch, Acting Head of Communications
Geri Watt, Area Procurator Fiscal, Ayrshire
Corinne Wilson, Finance Manager
Apologies:
John Dunn, Deputy Crown Agent
Bill Matthews, Non Executive Director
Welcome
1. Catherine Dyer welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular Mark Howells, Corinne Wilson, Jennifer Veitch and Geri Watt who will be taking up post as Head of Strategic & Delivery Division on 1 May.
2. Apologies were received from John Dunn and Bill Matthews.
Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising
3. The minutes of the meeting of 17 March 2010 were approved subject to minor amendments.
4. The Crown Agent addressed the action points from the previous meeting.
Strategic Discussion
5. Peter Collings introduced a discussion on potential topics for the Strategic Discussion with the Law Officers on 12 May 2010.
6. The meeting discussed the current and future financial position and how it may effect the strategic direction for COPFS.
7. The meeting considered the potential constraints on COPFS in the coming financial years and the opportunities available to continue to improve our services.
8. The meeting discussed the possible further savings which could be made in the long term and those to be implemented imminently.
Corporate Reports
9. The meeting noted the usual Performance and Workload papers MB(10)17 (Healthcheck) and MB(10)18 (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 2009. During discussion:
a) The meeting noted an increase in the number of new cases received during March;
b) The Crown Agent observed that performance targets were exceeded significantly in the last reporting year and were record results for the COPFS. Management Board congratulated staff across the Service on this achievement
Finance Update
3. Mark Howells introduced papers MB(10)19 and MB(10)19A which advised Management Board of the latest financial developments and of the new Risk Register which incorporates COPFS 6 key corporate risks.
4. The meeting were advised of the COPFS financial position as at the 2009/10 fiscal year end.
Staff Reward Scheme
5. Paper MB(10)20 provided MB with a summary of awards made by Areas and Crown Office Units/Divisions in the Staff Reward Scheme for the financial year 2009/10.
6. The meeting noted the contents of the paper and agreed that the Scheme should continue in 2010/11.
7. The meeting agreed that the paper should be added to the AFG/ABM agenda in May for their information.
Action: Secretariat
Civil Service People Survey
8. Janice Irvine introduced paper MB(10)21 which advised MB of recommendations of the People Strategy Action Group and sought their endorsement of the identified people management priorities for the next 12 to 24 months.
9. The meeting noted the contents of the paper and agreed to the approach described.
AOB
10. The Crown Agent congratulated Robert Gordon on his forthcoming retirement in his current role and thanked him for the significant contribution he has made to COPFS over the years.
MB Secretariat
21 April 2010