Community Learning and Development Strategic Leadership Group minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

Ben Macpherson MSP Minister for Higher and Further Education 
Cllr Tony Buchanan (Chair) COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People
Cllr Maureen Chalmers COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing
Sheena Devlin Association of Directors of Education in Scotland
James Russell Skills Development Scotland 
Celia Tennant Inspiring Scotland 
Dr David Gregory Education Scotland 
Dominique Carlisle-kitz CLD Managers Scotland
Ross Martin CLD Standards Council
John Howie Public Health Scotland
Clare Henry Scottish Local Authority Economic Development 
Matthew Sweeney COSLA 
Gayle Findlay COSLA 
Katelin O'Neill COSLA 
Will Quinn Scottish Government 
Sim Scott Scottish Government 
Paul Gibson Scottish Government 

Apologies

Ishabel Bremner Scottish Local Authority Economic Development
Dr Marion Allison CLD Standards Council
Gill Ritchie HM Inspectorate of Education 
Paul Vaughan Society of Local Authority Chief Executives
 

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions 

The Chair opened the meeting thanking members for attending in person and noting apologies. 
Members reflected on the December meeting held at Universal Connections and were grateful for the opportunity to meet learners engaged in South Lanarkshire CLD services.

Workstream delivery approach

Sim Scott outlined the work undertaken since the December meeting to develop a workstream approach to delivery in place of the previously proposed ‘Strategic Delivery Group’. 

The workstream approach has been co-developed between Scottish Government (SG), COSLA and members of the SLG.

Subject to approval, the approach offers an opportunity to test the concept for a three-month period to deliver activities to achieve the CLD Vision and Outcomes, with appropriate governance arrangements to enable decision-making. 

The SLG confirmed the need to measure and evaluate delivery on priorities, leveraging work already underway.

The three initial workstreams identified are ESOL, Workforce and Local Authority Planning. A ‘plan on a page’ is being developed for each workstream - a ‘contract' between the SLG and the workstream for approval on what workstreams will deliver.

Roles and responsibilities, accountability and oversight were discussed. This includes an SLG ‘Bridge’ who will work to ensure workstream outputs and requests to the SLG are well-considered. James Russell (SDS) has agreed to fulfil this role on an interim basis to test the concept.

A workstream highlight report will provide transparent and consistent key messages, indicators against agreed milestones and points requiring SLG action. 

Members provided positive feedback on the proposed workstreams, endorsing the approach and governance arrangements. 

Workstream key highlights

ESOL 

The ESOL workstream will evaluate the evidence and recommendations from the HMIE national ESOL review, the COSLA survey of local authority provision and ESOL expert group before identifying and validating an action plan for approval at the next scheduled SLG session.

Local authority planning

The local authority planning workstream is in formative stages, with stakeholders being identified for involvement.  A plan will be developed to identify key milestones in delivering CLD partnership plans for September 2027.

Workforce 

The workforce sub-group continue to meet and explore areas for improvement, as well as areas of good practice that can be built upon in a workforce plan.
Discussion papers have been produced around qualification and career pathways, with sessions covering career long professional learning and future workforce skills still to be held.
A final session in August will see publication of a findings and next steps paper.  An action plan is to be shared for approval at the next scheduled SLG session.
SLG members agreed the need to consider how the voluntary sector can be better included in the workstreams as this work progresses. 
The approach must ensure a clear demonstration of how delivery is impacting outcomes; identifying any issues the workstream is facing and highlighting where decisions are required. 

Other updates – Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) participation 

Will Quinn updated that SG has confirmed to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that we are unable to commit to being involved in the PIAAC participation survey for this cycle. 
PIAAC participation was required to start imminently, and carries a significant cost, which is not aligned with the agreed current priorities for CLD with the focus on delivery. 
SG is open to considering future cycles and opportunities for collaboration with OECD. This is not a rejection of the CLD review recommendation 6.1, it is something to be considered by SLG for a future cycle.

Approach for next session

The Chair noted the upcoming election period and recess, acknowledging the need for flexibility whilst ensuring there is continued progress on delivery without in-person sessions.
The next in-person SLG session is therefore proposed for September.  Any critical business or SLG approvals required in the meantime will be managed via correspondence.
A highlight report will be provided to SLG members in May, setting out progress on workstreams and summarising what is working well and lessons learned through the workstream delivery approach. This will be discussed as a substantive agenda item in September.
Members were content with this approach.

Any other business 

The Minister for Higher and Further Education remarked on the progress made by the SLG and appreciation for the collaborative leadership being provided by members to drive improvement for the CLD sector. 
The Chair thanked attendees for their input and concluded the meeting. 

Actions

• Circulate ‘plans on a page’ for each of the three workstreams for SLG endorsement
• Circulate the first highlight report to the SLG by end of May 2026
• Arrange the next SLG meeting date – September 2026