RESTRICTED – BOARD MEMBERS

MINUTES OF THE SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE BOARD MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY 2009 AT 0930 IN CENTRAL STORES, FAULDHOUSE

Present:Mike Ewart (Chief Executive)

Bill Carr (Non-Executive Director)

Mike Duffy (Director of Prisons)

Rona Sweeney (Director of Prisons Designate)

Andrew Fraser (Director of Health and Care)

Willie Pretswell (Director of Finance & Business Services)

Stephen Swan (Director, Human Resources)

Rachel Gwyon (Non Executive Director)

Harry McGuigan (NonExecutive Director)

Tom Fox (Head of Communications)

Helen Henderson (Board Secretary)

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

1.1Apologies for absence were received from Eric Murch.

  1. PRESENTATION BY IAN TIMMINS, HEAD OF INDUSTRIES, CENTRAL STORES

2.1Ian Timmins gave a presentation to the Board on Central Stores.

2.2He also described to the Board the new National Training Facility to be located at Central Stores with a proposed completion date of August 2009.

2.3The Chief Executive thanked Ian for his presentation.

  1. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

3.1 The Minutes of the last meeting were approved.

  1. MATTERS ARISING

4.1Prison Population - The Board noted that prison numbers had declined since December 2008. The only group increasing is the female population and only in very small numbers.

4.2Rachel Gwyon (Non Executive Director) asked if it would be possible to have a copy of the population graphs included with the Board papers each month.

Action - Helen Henderson

5. RISK REGISTER ID: 7: PARTNERSHIP

5.1The Director of Human Resourcesmade a presentation to the Board regarding Risk ID: 7: Partnership. There then followed an extensive discussion of this issue. Key items of note include:

  • PCS have intimated their withdrawal from VIRA from September 2009.
  • Forthcoming election to the National Executive of POA(S).
  • Ongoing discussions with senior managers regarding recognition.

5.2The Chief Executive said he would report further to the Board on discussions with senior managers.

Action - Mike Ewart

6.NEW PRISONS PROGRESS

6.1Ian Whitehead (Operational Executive, Partnerships and Commissioning Directorate) gave an update on the opening of HMP Addiewell as follows:

  • The prison opened on 12 December 2008.
  • There are currently 180 prisoners and there will be another 50 going into Addiewell on Friday (23 January 2009).
  • The issue of ‘definitions’ had been resolved.

6.2Harry McGuigan (Non Executive Director) asked Ian Whitehead if the transportation and visiting committee issues had been resolved. Mr Whitehead informed Mr McGuigan that both issues hadnow been resolved.

6.3Ian Whitehead then updated the Board on other new prisons issues:

  • Bishopbriggs project: Stage 1 is still on track with further contract negotiations scheduled to take place in April 2009.
  • Grampian: The Director of P & C and Ian Whitehead are to meet with the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council.

7.MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT

7.1The Monthly Monitoring Report was discussed and agreed.

8.FINANCIAL REPORT

8.1The Director of FABS confirmed SPS were on track to balance the books. There were however some issues relating to IRS which would have to be addressed.

9.ANY OTHER BUSINESS

9.1Bill Carr (Non Executive Director) asked if at the March Board meeting we could be issued with a brief paper summarising the actions that were agreed at the last Board workshop.

Action – Alastair Merrill

10.DATE OF NEXT MEETING

10.1The next meeting of the Scottish Prison Service Board would be held at HMPNoranside on Wednesday, 18 February 2009.

1.

Board mins 21 January