SCoSS Charter Sub-Committee Meeting

Date: 31 July 2025
Time: 14:00
Venue: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Minutes

Present—

  • Dr Mark Simpson (Chair)
  • Dr Marilyn Howard (Member)
  • Ed Pybus (Member)

Apologies: None

In attendance (SCoSS Secretariat)—

  • Andrew Strong, Head of Policy and Scrutiny
  • Stephen Herbert, Secretary
  • Lisa Kinnear, Governance and Engagement Officer

      Apologies: None

      1. Welcome and declaration of interests

      The Chair, Marilyn Howard, welcomed the attendees to the seventh meeting of the Charter Sub-Committee in 2025.

      There were no apologies and no interests were declared.

      2. Matters arising from previous meeting

      Andrew advised that a response from Social Security Scotland regarding SCoSS’s recent report on communication needs is expected imminently.

      Andrew also noted that the research undertaken during by SCoSS has been referenced in the independent review of Adult Disability Payment.

      Members requested that the link to SCoSS’s webinar in May, which highlights the experiences of individuals with communication needs in accessing the Scottish social security system, be moved to a more accessible area of the website to improve visibility.

      Action: Communication needs webinar be moved to a more visible area of the SCoSS website.

      The minutes of the previous meeting were noted and will be presented to the August Board meeting prior to publishing on the SCoSS website.

      3. Charter research – decision making criteria

      Members discussed creating a clear decision making criteria to provide a robust and transparent rationale for SCoSS’s charter work. They also considered how these criteria could form the basis of a process to involve stakeholders more effectively in future research.

      Members agreed to refine the criteria and consult a small group of stakeholders, ideally beginning 14 August, to gather feedback.

      4. Research ideas

      A range of potential research themes was presented to Members for their consideration, with care taken to avoid duplication of work already being undertaken elsewhere.

      These themes were discussed at length, with the list was narrowed down to a more relevant set of themes. Members agreed to revise the draft criteria in light of today’s conversation, and the outcomes will be fed back to the Board at its meeting in August for Members’ consideration.

      5. Invitation to meet Principal Social Researcher, Social Security Scotland

      Andrew noted that there are plans to meet with Carole Edwards, Senior Researcher at Social Security Scotland. The intention is to discuss future plans and the decision-making criteria for charter-related research, as well as to gain insight into the research being planned by the Scottish Government.

      Members agreed to hold the discussion on 18 August and confirmed that it will be added as an agenda item for the next Charter Subcommittee meeting.

      6. Any other business

      There was no other business to discuss. The next meeting of the Sub-Committee was scheduled for 18 August 2025.

      Next meeting: 18 August 2025 (11:00 – 12:30)

      Meeting closed at: 15:29

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