THE Scottish Police Authority yesterday agreed a u-turn on the secrecy proposals that have dogged the watchdog for months.

In December, the SPA backed private committee meetings and changed its procedures so that board papers were only published at the last minute, measures critics believed were a retrograde step.

The moves led to Moi Ali resigning from the SPA board after she dissented from the plan, which led to a huge political backlash.

At yesterday’s SPA board meeting in Glasgow, members of the scrutiny body decided to “revert” to holding committee meetings in public “wherever possible”.

Rather than publishing board papers on the day of a meeting, which was believed to be an attempt to hamper the media, the documents will be made publicly available three working days in advance of meetings.

Board members also agreed to create the post of deputy chair, which will be filled by Nicola Marchant.