Business Plan 2024-25

In line with the strategic objectives set out above, these are our priorities in 2024-25.

Scrutiny of draft social security regulations

We will undertake expert, independent, evidence-based scrutiny of draft regulations referred to us by the Scottish Government, including—

• Draft Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance Regulations
• Draft Funeral Expense Assistance Regulations
• Draft Pension Age Winter Heating Payment Regulations
• Draft Up-rating Regulations
• Draft regulations following from the parliamentary passage of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

We will review our scrutiny processes to improve efficiency and make sure that reports and recommendations are clearly founded on human rights and the Scottish social security principles.

Social security charter

• We will expand the ways we learn directly from stakeholders and people with lived experience on whether people are getting the service that the Social Security Charter says they should expect.
• We will report on improvements that the Scottish Government could make to better deliver commitments in the Charter.

Work alongside Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and key stakeholders

• We will develop a longer-term work programme, which we will share with Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament, with a framework for dealing with requests for reports on social security that may be requested from us.
• We will engage proactively with, and when requested provide evidence to, the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
• We will hold workshops with Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland staff to improve the shared understanding of the role of SCoSS as our remit expands under proposals in the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Stakeholder engagement

• We will implement our updated stakeholder engagement strategy which includes embedding lived experience within our scrutiny work.
• We will gather feedback from Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and all stakeholders who contribute to SCoSS scrutiny.
• We will engage with the wider policy community to gather feedback on the impact of SCoSS scrutiny work.

Transparency and accessibility

• We will publish all Minutes of SCoSS Board meetings, Sub-Committee meetings and scrutiny reports on the SCoSS website.
• We will improve the accessibility of the SCoSS website.
• We will make sure that we engage with stakeholders in an inclusive way.

Governance

• We will deliver on our corporate responsibilities, ensure that we create a sound governance framework and demonstrate value for money through our audited accounts.
• We will review governance, finance, performance and assurance framework and risk register on a quarterly basis at meetings of the Audit Sub-Committee.
• We will provide induction to new Board members and identify training opportunities for Members to support their role as a Board Member of an advisory NDPB.
•  We will streamline our governance procedures as legal requirements on SCoSS for external audit are removed under proposals in the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Finance

Our current budget provides funding to cover all expenditure associated with operating SCoSS within the guidance of an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body.  The SCoSS Board is supported by a secretariat of Scottish Government civil servants. The secretariat, along with our operational costs and members’ fees, is funded from a Commission budget which is provided by the Scottish Government.

In 2024-25, the SCoSS Budget is £450,000.  SCoSS will undertake a full mid-year review of its budgetary position in 2024-25, in what is anticipated to be a challenging financial environment.

SCoSS will fully comply with the requirements of external audit, undertaken by Audit Scotland, and will publish an Annual Report and Accounts which will also be laid in the Scottish Parliament.