SCoSS Charter Sub-Committee Meeting
Date: 17 & 18 December 2025
Time: 13:00 (17 December) & 12:00 (18 December)
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Minutes
Present—
- Dr Marilyn Howard (Chair)
- Dr Mark Simpson (Member)
- Ed Pybus (Member)
Apologies: None
In attendance (SCoSS Secretariat)—
- Andrew Strong (Head of Policy and Scrutiny, SCoSS Secretariat);
- Christopher Galloway (Analysis and Participation Support Officer, SCoSS Secretariat)
In attendance for agenda items 1, 3, 4 & 5 –
- Stephen Herbert, (Secretary, SCoSS Secretariat);
- Lisa Kinnear (Governance and Engagement Officer, SCoSS Secretariat)
In attendance for agenda items 4 & 5 –
- Lorraine Simpson (The Lines Between);
- Molly Rosenbaum (The Lines Between);
Apologies: None
1. Welcome and declaration of interests
Mark welcomed the Members to the eleventh meeting of the SCoSS charter research sub-committee in 2025.
It was noted as Mark’s first meeting as Chair of the Charter subcommittee, a role he will hold for the next six months on a rolling basis. It was also noted that the meeting format has been adjusted to run over two days.
No interests were declared.
2. Matters arising from previous meeting
Minor amendments were made to the October Charter subcommittee meeting minutes. Minutes will be amended and presented at the next Board meeting for approval before publication on the website.
3. Charter research contracts inception – members pre-meeting
Mark updated members that The Lines Between had been successful in bidding for both charter research contracts discussed at previous meetings. Members discussed expectations and key considerations for the research, including reflections on priorities, approaches, and areas of focus to align with the Charter.
The sub-committee formally noted its thanks to the Communities Analysis Division for their support with the procurement process.
4. Charter research inception meeting – Experiences of people for whom English is not their first language
Lorraine and Molly from The Lines Between attended this item to discuss research project. The discussion focused on clarifying objectives, discussing the scope of work, and ensuring alignment with Charter principles.
Both parties explored expectations for reporting and accessibility, considered key themes to guide the research, and agreed on practical arrangements for communication and ongoing collaboration throughout the project.
It was agreed that future meeting dates will be confirmed at the next Charter Subcommittee meeting.
5. Charter research inception meeting – Adult Disability Payment determinations, redeterminations and Short-term Assistance
Lorraine and Molly from The Lines Between attended this item to discuss research project. They outlined their approach, including drawing on relevant literature and engaging stakeholders, and plans for regular progress updates and communication. The discussion focused on clarifying research objectives, identifying stakeholder groups, and considering the analytical framework to ensure alignment with Charter principles. Members also explored timelines and reporting milestones.
Stakeholder engagement for the project was discussed, and it was agreed that members can share any additional contacts with The Lines Between to support the research.
It was agreed that future meeting dates will be confirmed at the next Charter Subcommittee meeting.
6. Research on the experiences of people with communication needs – Social Security Scotland response
Members noted Social Security Scotland’s response to SCoSS’s report on the experiences of people with communication needs accessing the Scottish social security system. They reflected on the response and acknowledged that all seven recommendations were either accepted or partially accepted.
It was noted that inviting a point of contact from Social Security Scotland to a future Charter Subcommittee meeting would be valuable for discussing ongoing and upcoming Charter-related research and processes.
Action: The Secretariat to invite Iain Davidson, Social Security Scotland, to attend a future charter sub-committee meeting.
7. Any other business
The following meeting dates for the Charter Subcommittee were agreed:
- 19 January 2026 (11:00-12:30)
- 18 February 2026 (11:30-13:00)
- 12 March 2026 (11:00-13:00)
Meeting closed: 14:23 (17 December)
Meeting closed: 12:54 (18 December)