Resources Committee

The formal minute of the public items of business will be available at the meeting scheduled for 18 November 2025. This will also be published on the SPA’s website. A full recording of the public items of business taken at this meeting can be accessed here.

MAIN ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Monitoring, planning and oversight
Q1 Financial Monitoring Report
2026/27 Budget Strategy
Debt write-off
Oversight of Transformation and Benefits
Estates Masterplan/Continuous Improvement – verbal update

Procurement
Procurement Annual Report
Contract Award x 1

Business Case Scrutiny & Oversight
Business Case x 2: Enhanced Communities Policing (FBC) and Ivanti System Replacement (IBC)
Change Request x 3 and End of Project Report x 1

Estates
Sale of Portobello Police Station - Community Asset Transfer
 
KEY ISSUES RAISED
Financial Monitoring & Planning

Q1 Financial Monitoring Report
Revenue
• Members considered the overtime spend and reasons for the overspend.
• The costs of policing the President of the USA’s visit will be reported to the committee and it is anticipated the full costs will be known by October; the Chief Executive has written to Scottish Government to request funding of these costs.
• The funding of increased employers National Insurance and Pay Awards was considered, and we heard that funding discussions are ongoing with Scottish Government with costs included in future years budget estimates.
• Capital – Members focused on the deliverability of the program particularly given workforce challenges in some areas. The Committee has requested that details of the predicted spend profile are provided.
• 2026/27 Budget Strategy - Discussion focused on the broader context of the medium and longer term financial strategy including the Scottish Government’s public sector reform strategy. The Committee also considered the approach to identifying savings as part of the budgeting process.
• Oversight of Transformation and Benefits - Members welcomed development in the transformation reporting and heard that Police Scotland is still working to improve the benefits reports. Members’ feedback will be reflected in future reporting and project financial information will be included and enhance Committee oversight in this area. Estates Asset Management, Cyber Security and Forensic Services transformation projects were all discussed. Committee interest was on the reasons for issues and how projects could return to ‘green’. Members heard that action had now been taken to address the resourcing problems with the Forensic Toxicology project, and this would be reflected from Q2 reporting.
• A revised approach for Change and Transformation including prioritisation along with an enhanced Benefits Realisation Framework will be prepared for the November Committee.

Estates

• Masterplan/Continuous Improvement - a verbal update provided by the DCC Transformation and Chief Financial Officer, recognised that progress needs to be made on the next stage of the Masterplan given the strategic risk involved. Progress has been made on works to buildings that have been identified as to be retained, and which will improve officer and staff conditions.
• Portobello Community Asset Transfer - Members considered the proposal and discussed how Police Scotland assesses Best Value with community asset transfers. Assurances were sought and received that community planning partners are involved in proposals.

Business Cases
Enhanced Communities Policing Full Business Case
• The commitment to strengthening local policing was welcomed. Discussion focused on considerations of value for money, risk and opportunities.
• In response to Committee questions, Police Scotland clarified how the proposal interacts with other business cases and asks for officer and staff resources.
Ivanti System Replacement Initial Business Case
• Members considered how the increased financial costs would be funded and the reasons for the increased costs compared to the current system. The risks related to the move from the current system and mitigations were considered.

Change Requests / End of Project Reports
• COS Phase 2 Finance & Benefits and Unified Communications and Contact Platform (UCCP) change requests were considered in addition to an end of project report for COS Phase 2.
• The COS Change Requests were noted but not approved because the project has already closed however, the end of project report was approved.
• Going forward, this committee expects to be able to consider change requests at the earliest possible opportunity to allow consideration if the project remains viable. Members welcomed the assurance from Police Scotland that this will be built into project timelines.

CONCLUSIONS/ACTIONS REACHED

• Approval of Annual Procurement Report 2024/25
• Approval of contract award: Transportation of Deceased Persons
• Approval of Full Business Case: Enhanced Communities Policing
• Approval of Initial Business Case: Ivanti System Replacement
• Approval of UCCP Change Request and COS Phase 2 End of Project Report
• Agreement to recommend to Scottish Government for approval bad debt write-off (Cable and Wireless)
• Agreement to recommend to Scottish Government for approval the sale of Portobello Police Station – Community Asset Transfer