Our business

Members noted the updates provided.

PC highlighted that David Linden MSP has been appointed Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee (CJC). 

Training Update Report

The Training report was circulated with the papers and was taken as read. 

SS advised that uptake of the Oracle Flexi Time training (7, 22 September and 7 October), had been strong, with good levels of participation across all departments.

PC requested that the agenda for the Leading from the Boardroom: Governance, Skills and Impact training scheduled for 28 October be shared with RB and IZ for consideration. SS advised that she was no longer able to attend the training and would be happy to offer her reserved place to RB or IZ, if appropriate. 

RB requested that the Trauma Informed material presented at the Corporate Services CPD event on 10 September, be shared with him. 

Members noted the updates provided.

Finance 

LD provided an overview of the Management Accounts to end August 2026, highlighting the following:

• There is an underspend in legal fees primarily due to delays in the Public Inquiry. Legal invoicing is beginning to increase, with forecast expenditure for September 2026 of approximately £109k against an in-month budget of £150k. 
• Overall expenditure is currently £42k overspent YTD against budget.
• Breakeven forecast position at year end is expected

North Hub expenditure

LD noted that North Hub expenditure to the end of August 2026 amounted to £6k incurred expenditure, with a further £13k of committed costs, giving a total commitment of £19k to date. These figures do not represent a full-year forecast and further details will be provided in future management accounts. 

External Audit 

LD advised that Audit Scotland commenced its annual audit on 19 September 2026. 

Members noted the financial position.

Further discussions took place regarding the allocation of the overtime budget within Investigations to address operational pressures and service demands. 

SS noted that, at this point in the financial year, a clearer understanding of the financial position was available. Once the full costs of the public inquiry are known, this may allow for some budget to be repurposed to staff costs. 

LP sought clarification on the expenditure recorded under ‘Fees and Subscriptions’ budget line. LD agreed to review and provide further details. 

Members noted the update provided.

Policy Documents

SS provided a verbal update on the role and purpose of the policy group. She explained that the group met following the SLT meeting to review the policy tracker, focusing on policy review dates and identifying when policies were due for review and submission to the SLT. SS clarified that the meeting was primarily a policy tracking and task management exercise, ensuring policies remained on schedule for review and approval, rather than a formal Policy Group meeting focused on policy development or discussion. 

SS advised that, due to competing workloads, she was aware that not all SLT members had had the opportunity to review the policies and guidance documents circulated via email on 25 August 2026. 

The following policies, were therefore NOT approved;

• Records Management Policy
• Complaints about PIRC
• Child Friendly Complaints Handling - Process Guidance

Members were asked to provide feedback directly to relevant policy / guidance owners as soon as possible to enable policies to be updated. Once amended, the policies, manual and / or guidance document would be recirculated. 

The following policies were approved;

• Media Policy

LP requested that policy review dates be considered as an SLT agenda item at future meetings. SS agreed and confirmed that the policy tracker would be shared with members ahead of the next meeting to support discussions.

Members noted the update provided.

AOCB

Nil of note.

END