Community Learning and Development Strategic Leadership Group minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Cllr Maureen Chalmers (Chair), COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing
• Cllr Tony Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People
• Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education
• Sheena Devlin, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
• Dr Marion Allison, Director, CLD Standards Council
• Kirsty Forrester, Vice Chair, CLD Managers Scotland
• Nicola Sykes, Senior Education Officer, Education Scotland
• Janie McManus, Chief Inspector of Education, HMIE
• Celia Tennant, CEO, Inspiring Scotland
• Sarah Kirkpatrick, Scottish Funding Council
• James Russell, Interim Senior Director of Transformation, Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
• Clare Henry, Scottish Local Authority Economic Development
• Paul Vaughan, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE)
• Alexis Camble, COSLA Policy Manager
• Catherine Damen, COSLA Policy Officer,
• Will Quinn, Scottish Government secretariat
• Elisha Fisher, Scottish Government secretariat
• James Brook, Scottish Government secretariat

Apologies

• Jackie Brasted, Scottish Funding Council
• John Howie, Public Health Scotland
• Nicky McCrimmon, CLD Managers Scotland
• Ishabel Bremner, Chair, Scottish Local Authority Economic Development
• Gillian Hamilton, Chief Executive, Education Scotland

Items and actions

The Chair opened the fourth meeting of the CLD Strategic Leadership Group and thanked Members for attending in person.

Progress on agreed priorities

The Chair thanked members for contributions to the updated action plan and draft Terms of Reference for the Strategic Delivery Group received prior to the meeting.  

Members discussed progress on the agreed priority actions which included the remit, purpose and membership of the Strategic Delivery Group (SDG) and its relationship with the Strategic Leadership Group (SLG). It was agreed that the Secretariat will draft criteria for role of SDG Chair for Members to review and provide nominations.

Members noted the connection between ESOL and employability, recognising the New Scots ESOL Expert Advisory Group and ESOL learners out with the New Scots space.  

Discussion also highlighted the importance of interaction with other service providers for the delivery of community based adult learning and youth work.

The group also noted progress on recommendation 5.2 and the importance of the voluntary sector when developing a workforce plan.

Remaining recommendations

The group looked at the remaining recommendations which have not yet been taken forward and discussed a categorisation of short, medium and longer-term recommendations. It was noted ongoing work being taken forward by the group may also deliver additional outcomes towards the remaining recommendations.

It was agreed that mapping work for CLD services within local authorities would be shared prior to the next meeting.

Equalities Forum and learner views

The Chair highlighted the importance of equalities being central to the work of the group and the group should consider how to proceed. The Chair also noted the importance of meeting with a range of CLD learners.

It was agreed that the secretariat would develop options to move forward with the remaining aspects of recommendation 1.1 and members will feedback thoughts on how best to proceed.

Review of session and agreed actions

The Chair summarised the actions from the meeting. The group discussed and agreed the need to progress actions via correspondence in between meetings.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Actions

• Secretariat – draft criteria and necessary skills for role of SDG Chair.
• Members – propose names for a SDG chair based on criteria.
• Members – continue to propose names for SDG membership.
• Members – mapping of CLD services within Local Authorities to be shared with the Group.
• Secretariat – develop options for the SLG to consider fulfilling recommendation 1.1.
• Members – feedback potential options for meeting with learners.