Date: 29 August 2024

Time: 14:00

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Present—

• Ed Pybus (Chair)
• Dr Mark Simpson (Member)
• Judith Paterson (Member)
• Dr Marilyn Howard (Member)
• Adam Bennett (Member)

Apologies: None

In attendance (SCoSS Secretariat)—

• Stephen Herbert, Secretary
• Andrew Strong, Head of Policy and Scrutiny
• Christopher Galloway, Analysis and Participation Support Officer
• Lisa Kinnear, Governance and Engagement Officer

The Chair, Ed Pybus, welcomed the Commissioners to the seventh meeting of the Board in 2024 and the first Board meeting for the Chair and Adam Bennett since their appointment to the Board on 1 August.

Marilyn Howard declared that she is a former recipient of the DWP Winter Fuel Payment.

Adam Bennett declared that he is a Trustee of Young Scot.

In relation to agenda item 4, Dr Mark Simpson noted that he was a member of the panel that undertook the Independent Review of Welfare Mitigations established by the Department for Communities, Northern Ireland Executive.

The draft Minutes of the June Board meeting were considered and, following amendment, agreed.

In attendance—

• Julie McKinney, Head of Social Security Strategy, Welfare Fund and Winter Benefits

Julie McKinney provided an update on Pension Age Winter Heating Payment following announcements made by the Scottish and UK governments, since the last Board meeting, with regard to this issue.

Subsequently, the Board agreed that Dr Mark Simpson and Adam Bennett would lead on any further scrutiny that may be required with regard to Pension Age Winter Heating Payment regulations.

In attendance—

• Kate Thomson-McDermott, Unit Head;
• Ellen Searle, Team Leader, Live Benefits, Join Up & Future Changes for Carer Benefits;
• Dawn Kane, Senior Policy Officer, Future Changes; and
• Alice Crawford, Senior Policy Officer.

Scottish Government officials presented to, and discussed with, the Board the purpose and content of the regulations. This included the aims of carer support, Carer’s Allowance Supplement changes, issues and actions arising from impact assessments and the timeline for scrutiny of the regulations.

Once officials had left the meeting, the Board agreed that Judith Paterson and Ed Pybus would lead the Commission’s scrutiny of the draft regulations.

The Board agreed to defer consideration of this agenda item to a future Board meeting.

Andrew Strong provided an update and noted that structured interviews had taken place with Dr Sally Witcher, RNIB Scotland and The Action Group.  He noted that SCoSS would be meeting with Social Security Scotland to discuss the charter research.  Andrew also highlighted upcoming focus groups which were taking place in a variety of locations in Scotland in conjunction with Young Scot and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

Stephen Herbert spoke to the content of the Audit Scotland Annual Audit Report 2023-24. He noted that Audit Scotland confirmed at the Audit Sub-Committee that the accounts were unqualified and there were no unadjusted mis-statements to report.  He also noted that there was one recommendation in the Audit Scotland report which was considered and agreed to by the Audit Sub-Committee and the Accountable Officer.

The Board agreed the content of the Audit Scotland Annual Audit Report 2023-24 and covering letter.

Stephen Herbert spoke to the content of the Annual Report and Accounts and noted that the Audit Sub-Committee agreed, on 26 August, to recommend the draft annual report and accounts be approved by the Board.  Stephen noted the Accountable Officer stated, at the Audit Sub-Committee, that he was content to sign the draft annual report and accounts.

The Board agreed that the Annual Report and Accounts be approved and signed by the Accountable Officer. The Board also agreed that the Annual Report and Accounts be published on the SCoSS website in due course.

The risk register had been reviewed by the Secretariat and considered by the Audit Sub-Committee which proposed the inclusion of two new risks in the register both of which relate to IT and Cyber-security issues.

The Board agreed to the inclusion of the two new risks and the risk register.  The Board also requested that the Secretariat review the scoring levels for existing risks in the register prior to the next meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee.

The Board discussed and considered an in-person meeting and agreed not to hold an in-person meeting while current financial controls that were in place across the Scottish Government and devolved public bodies remained in place.  The Board agreed to hold a business planning session online.

The Chair noted that he will be meeting the Chair of the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment, Edel Harris, on 11 September.

Lisa Kinnear provided the Board with an update regarding fee claims.

Meeting closed at 16:54

Date of next meeting: Thursday 26 September