Date: 25 June 2026

Time: 13:30

Venue: Social Security Scotland, Glasgow

Present—

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

For agenda item three—

• Professor Sharon Wright, Social Security Advisory Committee

For agenda item four—

• Leanne Carson, Director, Digital Delivery and Change, Social Security Scotland;
• Karyn Lavelle, Chief Operating Officer, Social Security Scotland;
• Helen Fogarty, Head of Performance, Analysis and Strategy, Social Security Scotland;
• Chad Simmie, Chief Architect, Social Security Scotland; and
• Alan Howie, Chief Data Officer, Social Security Scotland.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioners to the meeting and no interests were declared.

The minutes of the May Board meeting were agreed.

The Board were joined by Professor Wright, Member of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC), for an introductory discussion. Professor Wright is the Scottish representative on SSAC and she outlined her role.  Subsequently, there was discussion of a range of issues of mutual interest, reflecting on devolved and reserved social security policies in Scotland and SCoSS and SSAC scrutiny roles.

The Board were joined by a range of officials from Social Security Scotland. Social Security Scotland discussed various topics with the Board including ongoing work since the closure of programme, public service reform, the Social Security Charter and Social Security Scotland’s data strategy.

The Chair provided the Board with an update on his recent meetings which included meeting with Catherine Reeves, Deputy Director, Disability Benefits, Carer Benefits and Cross-Cutting Policy, Scottish Government.

The Board agreed to refer consideration of this agenda item to the Governance Sub-Committee.

The Board agreed to defer consideration of this agenda item.

The Board considered a proposed framework for a SCoSS house style guide.  The Board agreed to consider a draft style guide at the Board meeting on 27 August.

The Board agreed to hold an ad hoc Board meeting in late July to consider a number of work programme issues.

Meeting closed at 17:25

Date of next Board meeting: Thursday 27 August