Reevel Alderson
BBC Scotland Home Affairs correspondent

MSPs have been told the chairman of the body which oversees Police Scotland is not fit to remain on the board.

It follows the resignation of a member of the board of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Moi Ali, in a row over meetings being held behind closed doors. 

Ms Ali said when she dissented over the policy, she received a letter from the chairman, Andrew Flanagan on Christmas Eve. 

Asked if she regarded that as amounting to bullying, Ms Ali told Holyrood's Policing sub-committee she believed it did. 

The independent inspector of constabulary (HMICS), Derek Penman, told MSPs he was speeding up his investigation of transparency within the SPA.

Current Scottish Police Authority board member Iain Whyte says he has the nature of meetings is that "they can become a bit stilted at times".

Mr Whyte says the chair has encouraged more debate.

"We are looking to be more open about decisions," he says. 

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Committee convener Jackie Baillie says she cannot find evidence of dissent in the paper work provided.

Current Scottish Police Authority board member David Hume says he can share the minute with the committee.

Mr Thomson says in evidence Moi Ali has said the letter was "straightforward punishment". 

Th Tory MSP asks, if bullying, is going on does it deter members from speaking openly. 

Current Scottish Police Authority board member David Hume says he has dissented on two separate occasions and that he can ensure the committee that he does not feel he cannot speak openly. 

Mr Thomson asks if Mr Hume received a letter following his dissent. 

Mr Hume says he didn't.

Current Scottish Police Authority board member George Graham says he has not been asked not to say anything.

David Hume says no-one has guided him to make comments or otherwise.

Mr Hume says Moi Ali took advice on what to do about her concerns about the letter from SPA Chairman Andrew Flanagan.

He says again he feels "it was a matter of huge regret she resigned from the board".

Tory MP Ross Thomson asks if anyone has asked the board not to comment to media coverage and, if not, why has the board remained silent.

Current Scottish Police Authority board member Iain Whyte says the board works collectively and makes decisions together and members would not comment individually. 

Mr Whyte says he would direct questions from the media to the press office. 

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Committee convener Jackie Baillie asks if Mr Graham thinks the letter before the committee complies with On Board guidance.

George Graham says he can't say a great deal about the letter and says he respects Moi Ali's position on the letter.

Current Scottish Police Authority board member David Hume says he regrets very much that Moi Ali left the board, saying she was "very useful and active".

Committee convener Jackie Baillie asks if the principles of the board are actually being met. 

Current Scottish Police Authority board member George Graham says he respects Ms Ali and did so when she was on the board.

"I absolutely would dissent from anything," that I didn't agree with, he says.

Mr Graham says he is concerned about the picture that is being painted of Andrew Flanagan as the chair. 

He says he does not see him as a control freak. 

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Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks if Mr Whyte agrees the SPA board is in crisis.

Mr Whyte says: "I don't believe it is in crisis we are an improving board."

Current Scottish Police Authority board member Iain Whyte says he would not be put off recording dissent and that he has done so previously. 

Ms Lennon asks if Mr Flanagan has overstepped the mark sending the letter to Moi Ali.

Mr Whyte says he is not in a position to say because he does not know th previous converations between the two.

Ms Lennon asks i Mr Whyte has been "paying attention" as all the information is in the public domain and asks if he sees himself as complicit in what's happened to Ms Ali.

Mr Whyte says he is not aware of all the correspondence and that he does not know why Ms Ali resigned.

"I don't think I would have resigned," he says. 

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks former Scottish Police Authority board member Brian Barbour if he believes Andrew Flanagan is fit to continue in his role

Mr Barbour says he has no experience of Andrew Flanagan but having heard Moi Ali's story he questions his suitability for the role.

Ms Ali says she sought to have a meeting with Andrew Flanagan after she received her letter and for a variety of reasons that did not happen.

Ms Lennon says she asked Mr Flanagan if his conduct had been "control-freakery" and asks if the same letter would have been sent to a man. 

Ms Ali says "no I don't" and that she spoke to someone in similar circumstances who did not receive the same letter.

Ms Lennon asks if Mr Flanagan is fit to remain on the board.

Ms Alis says "no" and that he is not fit to sit on any public board. 

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Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks Moi Ali if Andrew Flanagan's letter to her amounts to bullying.

Ms Ali says: "Yes I believe that it did."

"It's been a really horrendous experience."

She says: "It's been a very difficult thing to live through."

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks Mr Graham if he believes he has been part of a "good board".

Current Scottish Police Authority board member George Graham says since Andrew Flanagan has taken over he has seen things move forwad.

Mr Graham says Mr Flanagan's governance review has helped things move forward.

He says he has great respect for Ms Ali and he views but that he does not recognise her desciption of the board and wouldn't say that it is "secretive".

Mr Graham says there are meetings that are held in public but that private meetings serve their purpose for relations with Police Scotland.  

He say every board needs freedoms to discuss sensitive issues. 

Moi Ali says the chair's style shapes board culture.

Ms Ali says there were key stakeholders concerns that there was insufficient transparency in SPA papers.

She says at least one local authority had raised issues and concerns.

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The former SPA board member says the decision on private meetings was contrary to statute and concerns were ignored.

She says the chair was wrong to punish her and the board has failed to challenge and she highlights the ensuing reputational damage.

Former Scottish Police Authority board member Moi Ali says she was not expected to express views in public and asks where alternative views can be discussed.

Ms Ali says Andrew Flanigan told her that expressing disagreement publically was a resigning matter. 

She says her "removal from the board was straightforward punishment for speaking out."

She asks if withholding Andrew Flanagan's letter from the board is an example of integrity. 

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Current Scottish Police Authority board member George Graham says the board is committed to every key police issue and decision being addressed in public at the appropriate point.

Mr Graham says: "It is a question of when and not if an issue enters the public domain."

He says taking committee business in private was to get early visibility on the challenges.

Mr Graham says the board new the decision would have its critics.

He says the board is listening.

Former Scottish Police Authority board member Brian Barbour says he left the SPA 18 months ago and made no public comment until former board member Moi Ali's resignation

Mr Barbour says policing costs over £1bn per year and needs competent oversight.

He says it saddens him that the SPA have remained silent over Moi Ali in the face of media criticism. 

Mr Barbour says the SPA's role is to hold the chief constable and Police Scotland to account.