Senior Leadership Team - 21 July 2026
Attendees
Irina Wilkie Head of Communications (IW)
Jacqueline Jeffrey Senior Review Officer (JJ)
Janice Carter Information Officer (JC)
Jennifer Fisher Executive Assistant (Minutes) (JLF)
Laura Paton Commissioner (LP)
Phil Chapman Director of Operations (PC) (Chair)
Raymond Brown Head of Investigations (RB)
Sharon Smit Head of Corporate Services/Accountable Officer (SS)
Welcome and Apologies
PC opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
Apologies
Apologies were noted from Amanda Black, Head of Legal Services, Laura Duguid, Finance Manager and Ilya Zharov, Head of Reviews & Policy (represented by JJ).
Matters proposed to be considered in private.
Attendees agreed to consider agenda items 9-17 in private, for the reasons set out on the agenda.
Minutes and Action Log from previous meeting
Draft Minutes
Minutes of the June 2026 meeting were approved.
Action Log
The SLT action log was reviewed; four actions remain ongoing
AP1: Develop guidance for staff attending court to provide evidence.
Action: ongoing
AP2: Review 2026 staff survey questionnaire (as shared at May 2026 SLT) and provide feedback to SS
Action: ongoing
AP4: LD to arrange a meeting with departmental heads to review overtime budget provisions
Action: ongoing
AP54: IZ to prepare paper to PC – Operation Glade and systemic failures to address backlog of complaints
Action: ongoing
Commissioner’s Update Report
Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry – amended timetable for closing submissions
The deadline for draft submissions has been extended from 31 July to 14 August 2026, with final submissions now due by 28 September 2026. LP, AB and Counsel continue to progress finalising the PIRC written submissions in advance of the revised deadline.
Launch of PIRC’s Child Friendly Complaint Handling Guidance
PIRC’s Child Friendly Complaint Handling Guidance was launched on 16 July 2026. Initial responses to the guidance have been positive, with the publication receiving good coverage and being widely shared across social media (LinkedIn). LP expressed her thanks to all involved in producing and publishing the guidance.
Members noted the updates provided.
Communications Update
IW provided an overview of the Communications Update report, circulated in advance.
Child Friendly Complaints Handling Guidance
Comms team preparations are now complete following the launch of the Child Friendly Complaints Handling Guidance - follow up activity is planned for later in the year.
Strategic Review, Plan and Annual Business Plan
Communications support continues for the Strategic Review, Strategic Plan and Annual Business Plan. IW advised that the Communication plan will be shared with LP and PC next week in advance of the Statutory Advisory Board meeting.
Annual Report
Comms team actions relating to the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), is complete to date.
Comms Activity
13 staff messages were issued on a range of topics including IT updates, engagement sessions, pensions and organisational changes.
Six reactive media statements were issued/prepared.
One LinkedIn post highlighting Complaint Handling Review statistics was published and shared by partner organisations, generating positive engagement.
PIRC’s LinkedIn account recorded 1,578 impressions and an engagement rate of 6.7% and gained 44 new followers, bringing the total audience to 1,100 followers.
LP noted that work on finalising the Annual Report is currently behind schedule. Members will be issued with relevant sections to review and LP asked that comments/feedback be returned promptly to support completion of the report within the revised timescales.
Members noted the updates provided.
Training
The Training report was circulated with the papers and was taken as read.
SS highlighted that the training calendar would be reviewed and reissued later in the year.
Members discussed the level of detail contained within the calendar and agreed that it was useful to have visibility of planned training activity.
LP requested that SOLO training be removed from the list of required training, noting that the training plan currently identifies this training as mandatory despite there being no organisational requirement.
RB advised that SI Houliston was reviewing training requirements across the investigations department to ensure that training provision aligned with operational need. RB further highlighted that the training input delivered at the recent Investigations CPD day had been beneficial and had been well received by staff.
Members noted the updates provided.
Finance
SS provided an overview of the Management Accounts to end June 2026, highlighting the following:
Salary costs are £45k overspent year to date (YTD). This reflected an overspend on overtime of £12k, together with the YTD vacancy efficiency target of £35k. Vacancy efficiencies continue to be closely monitored.
Running costs are £40k underspend YTD, indicating expenditure is broadly in line with budget.
Accommodation costs during June 2026 relate to the annual insurance premium for Hamilton House of £3k and an increased service charge for Bothwell House of £4k. these costs had been anticipated and budgeted for in July.
There is an underspend in legal fees due to delays in the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry
Overall expenditure is currently £5k overspent YTD against budget.
Discussions continued in respect of vacancy efficiencies and a number of budget lines. Members noted that the accompanying narrative could be clearer in explaining the current position. SS agreed to reconsider the narrative included with the management accounts for future reports.
Members noted the update provided.
Policy Documents
The following policies were agreed, via correspondence;
Employee Vetting and References Policy
Grievance Policy
Volunteering Policy
Any other business
Nil of note.