SCoSS Board Meeting
Date: 30 October 2025
Time: 13:30
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Minutes
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
Scottish Government officials (for Agenda Item 3)—
- Johanna MacIsaac, Senior Policy Lead – Residence and Presence, Social Security Directorate, Scottish Government
1. Welcome and declaration of interests.
The Chair welcomed the Commissioners to the meeting and no interests were declared.
2. Draft Minutes of previous meeting.
The minutes of the September Board meeting were considered, amended and agreed.
3. The draft Social Security (Residence and Presence Requirements) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026.
Johanna MacIsaac discussed purpose of and timetable for the draft regulations with the Board. The Board noted that draft impact assessments accompanying the draft regulations would be provided in due course. The Board agreed to consider a draft response on the regulations either by correspondence or at a forthcoming ad-hoc Board meeting.
4. The draft Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026.
The Board considered the draft Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 on a page-by-page basis. The Board also considered the responses from Scottish Government officials to written questions from the Board that resulted from discussion with officials at the September Board meeting.
Andrew Strong provided the Board with an update on stakeholder engagement. The Board noted that an engagement event with policy officers from several organisations would take place on 5 November.
5. The draft Two Child Limit Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026.
The Board decided to agree a revised response on the draft regulations via correspondence.
6. Charter research.
Andrew Strong provided the Board with an update on Charter research particularly with regard to progress in commissioning two external research projects.
7. External expertise.
The Board agreed to defer this item for discussion at the Audit Sub-Committee meeting on 13 November and for further consideration at a future board meeting.
8. Chair’s update.
The Chair provided the Board with an update on his recent meetings with the Icelandic Welfare Appeals Committee, the Chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission and the Standards Commission. The Board noted the offer of a training session from the Standards Commission.
9. Any Other Business.
Andrew Strong provided the Board with an update on the timetable for scrutiny of forthcoming up-rating regulations.
The Board agreed to hold an ad hoc Board meeting on Friday 14 November.
Meeting closed at 16:56
Date of next Board meeting: Wednesday 26 November 2025