The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Chief quizzed on the ‘culture of secrecy’
Chairman of watchdog asked if he had considered his own position
The chairman of the police watchdog has been told he is “not running the Kremlin” as MSPs voiced concerns over secrecy within the organisation.
Andrew Flanagan faced a torrent of questions from Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee – including whether he had considered his own position – over his management of the Scottish Police Authority’s board.
Mr Flanagan had admitted he did not pass on to other board members a letter sent to him by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) Derek Penman questioning governance arrangements at the SPA and the decision to hold some of its meetings behind closed doors.
A new governance framework approved by the board following a review by Mr Flanagan commissioned by the Justice Secretary has led to some committee meetings being held in private and board papers only being made available on the day of the meeting.
SNP MSP Alex Neil said: “Every board member under the guidelines and under statute is entitled to know what the Chief Inspector of Constabulary is saying.
“This is not the Kremlin you are running, it is supposed to be an open public body, accountable ... you are accountable to the board members.”
Mr Neil said the letter from Mr Penman raised questions over whether “decisions are being effectively made in private and nodded through in public”.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said there was a “culture of secrecy” within the SPA, while Conservative MSP Ross Thomson suggested the organisation was “not fit for purpose”, and asked if Mr Flanagan has “thought about his position at all”.
On his failure to share the letter, Mr Flanagan said: “I think because the issues had been well trailed, they had been well known. I didn’t think it was necessary to circulate the letter itself.”
Addressing the question on whether the SPA was fit for purpose, he continued: “I think we are becoming more effective, I think it is important that we recognise that there is already a high and significant degree of openness through the public board meetings that we have which are second to none in terms of public bodies in Scotland.
“I think we are on a journey. Is it perfect? No, it’s not perfect, but I think in the last 12 months or so there have been significant steps forward.
“I think we need to make sure that the board meetings aren’t perfunctory or rubber-stamping, I think we need to have open discussion at those board meetings.”
Mr Flanagan said he had not considered his position as chairman, adding: “I believe that I am doing an effective job.”