Former SPA chief executive John Foley discusses the SPA audit with MSPs
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Image source, bbcLabour MSP Iain Gray
Labour MSP Iain Gray says it is quite difficult not to conclud that the cabinet secretary was telling you to stop the process
Mr Flanagan says: "I couldn't say I was directed to."
Mr Gray asks if Mr Flanagan felt he had no choice but to reverse the decision.
"Yes," says the former chair of the SPA.
Image source, bbcThe committee is taking evidence on the chief constable's special leave
Mr Kerr turns to the second meeting on the same day with Mr Matheson, where three officals were present.
The Tory MSP asks if at no stage did anyone take any notes.
The former chair of the SPA says: "I don't recall seeing notes being taken."
He says he has had many meetings with the justice secretary where no formal notes were taken.
Were you told to change your mind by the justice secretary, Liam Kerr asks.
"It wasn't that explicit", says Mr Flanagan.
He explains to decision was reversed because Mr Matheson was "unhappy for reasons I didn't understand".
He says he wanted any issues resolved before Phil Gormley was to return.
Tory MSP Liam Kerr says the cabinet secretary has been very clear that the SPA did not have a plan about the wellbeing of the officers who had raised the complaints.
Mr Flanagan says to get the robust plan the justice secretary wanted the complainants would have to have been contacted.
He says their wellbeing was disussed but there was not a plan.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Liam Kerr
Dr Nicola Marchant says the process was stopped after the meeting with the cabinet secretary.
Mr Kerr asks if the welfare plans were written down or were they in Mr Flanagan's mind.
Dr Marchant says: "There was a process written down that would lead to detailed plans."
Mr Kerr asks for what was written down and she says she will go back to the SPA.
Colin Beattie asks if any senior police officers had been contacted about Mr Gormley's return.
Andrew Flanagan says the process was stopped as soon as the cabinet secretary made it clear he was unhappy with the decision.
It seems to be extremely poor governance and poor process, the SNP MSP says.
"I just find it quite extraordinary given the sensitivities," Mr Beattie adds.
He suggests stakeholders should have been kept informed.
Andrew Flanagan explains an engagement plan was in place, with the cabinet secretary the first person to be engaged - after which the process was stopped.
Image source, bbcMichael Matheson told MSPs there were "clear deficiencies" in the SPA's decision
Scotland's justice secretary has criticised the Scottish Police Authority over its attempt to bring the chief constable back to work.
Phil Gormley is currently on special leave while allegations of gross misconduct are investigated.
His lawyers accused Michael Matheson ofmaking an "unlawful" interventionto stop him coming back to work.
But Mr Matheson told MSPs that he had simply questioned "clear deficiencies" in the decision-making process.
Image source, bbcPhil Gormley was on his way back to Scotland to go back to work when he was told not to return
Image source, bbcCommittee convener Jenny Marra reminds Mr Flanagan that all present must not stray into Pirc investigation areas.
The former SPA chair says the board discussed the wellbeing of the complainants and says only one was physically based in Tulliallan where the chief constable would have returned to.
Mr Flanagan says the first step was to have a discussion with the chief constable to see if he was prepared to return and then to talk to the cabinet secretary about it.
He says he decided he would talk to senior police officers after speaking to Mr Matheson.
SNP MSP Colin Beattie
SNP MSP Colin Beattie asks if the meeting involved all board members.
Dr Marchant says two members were not present.
Andrew Flanagan says it is normal to say there was a unanimous decision from the board even without all members attending.
What there any discussion on the chief constable's future outwith the board, asks Mr Beattie.
Andrew Flanagan says the review period ended on 4 November.
He says he does not recall discussing it with other people but people "take note of these things".
"It really doesn't seem like a robust system you've got here", says Colin Beattie.
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Image source, PANo minutes were taken during a meeting attended by Scotland's justice secretary to discuss the future of the country's chief constable.
The meeting was held between Michael Matheson and the then-head of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in November.
It led to the SPA reversing its decision to allow Chief Constable Phil Gormley to return to duty.
Mr Gormley's lawyers claim Mr Matheson acted unlawfully by blocking the move.
Image source, bbcFormer SPA chief executive John Foley
Former SPA chief executive John Foley says he does not think he created a minute from the meetings but he says he took a note.
"The minute taker was asked to leave because it was a controversial matter relating to the chief constable."
He says he does not recall if he created miinute.
Current board member Dr Nicola Marchant says the issue of the chief constable's return was brought up under any other business at the SPA board meeting.
Dr Marchant says she will sekk out the minutes for that meeting.
The convener asks at what point Mr Flanagan changed his mind about Phil Gormley's return.
He says it was following the two meetings with the cabinet secretary.
Did you feel you were being directed to change your decision, Ms Marra asks.
Andrew Flanagan says he did not.
Mr Flanagan says the leave of absence was at the request of the chief constable and the terms of the agreement were that he himself could decide to return to work.
The forme SPA chair says he met with the cabinet secretary in early November and explained the situation.
"He told me that he thought it was a bad decision."
Image source, bbcMr Flanagan says "It was clear to me he did not want the cheif constable to return at that point."
At a subsequent metting with the justice secretary and three officials Mr Flanagan says he reminded Mr Matheson of his comment about it being a bad decision.
He says the justice secretary told him not to bother about that and moved on to process.
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Convener Jenny Marra kicks off with a question to former SPA chair Andrew Flanagan about his meeting with Justice Secretary Michael Matheson in November.
Mr Flanagan says Chief Constable Phil Gormley had indicated he was ready to return to work.
The SPA board had to take a view on whether the leave conditions had been satisfied, he says, which was agreed.
Whether suspension was appropriate was discussed among the board.
Andrew Flanagan was chair of the SPA board
Andrew Flanagan explains suspension must only be used on two conditions - that there is a risk of interference with an ongoing investigation or if it is in the public interest.
The SPA board concluded suspension was not applicable and should therefore invite the chief constable to return to work, he says.
Image source, PAPolice Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley is facing a seventh complaint.
It is understood it was made to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) is currently investing four complaints while three are now being assessed internally.
Mr Gormley, who has been on leave since September, has denied any wrongdoing.
The SPA, which is expected to provide an update on Mr Gormley's special leave on Thursday, declined to comment on disciplinary matters.
Last week it emerged a sixth complaint had been made about Mr Gormley's conduct.
Image source, bbc
Image source, bbcThe Scottish Police Authority has been criticised for poor governance and a lack of transparency in a report by the public spending watchdog.
Audit Scotland said relocation expenses of £67,000, paid to a deputy chief constable, had not been properly disclosed in the accounts.
The same officer's £53,000 personal tax liability for 2016/17 was also paid by the SPA.
Image source, PAThe report also criticised the spending of £344,000 on three temporary posts.
It said the interim posts for a chief financial officer and HR director at Police Scotland had not demonstrated value for money, and that the process for appointing the SPA's interim chief financial officer was considered inconsistent with its own procurement procedures.
The report also said the former chief executive of the SPA and the chief financial officer of Police Scotland made insufficient efforts to ensure that accounts were complete and accurate.
The committee is taking evidence on the 2016/17 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, external from:
This morning the Public Audit and Post-legislative scrutiny committee is taking evidence on the 2016/17 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, external from former chair Andrew Flanagan.
After general questions, we will provide extensive coverage of this week's First Minister's Questions.
This will be followed by a debate on electric shock training collars led by Tory MSP Maurice Golden.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe week ends with the first stage debate of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill.