Corporate Board minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

Members

• Joe Griffin (Chair), Permanent Secretary
• Miriam Craven, DG Communities
• Catriona Dalrymple, Director Justice (for Neil Rennick from 15:00)
• Lesley Fraser, DG Corporate
• Gregor Irwin, DG Economy
• Manish Joshi, Non-Executive Director (NXD)
• Belinda Oldfield, NXD
• Neil Rennick, DG Education and Justice (until 15:00)
• Shona Riach, DG Strategy and External Affairs
• Gillian Russell, Director of Health Workforce (for Caroline Lamb)
• Alyson Stafford, DG Scottish Exchequer
• Tom Taylor, NXD and Chair of Scottish Government Audit and Assurance Committee (SGAAC)
• Annabel Turpie, Director of Marine Scotland (for Roy Brannen)

In attendance

• Elise Black, Deputy Director, Corporate Finance (item 4)
• Andrew Bruce, Director of Communications and Ministerial Support 
• Jackie McAllister, Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Richard McCallum, Director of Public Spending (item 3 and 5)
• Iain MacNab, Head of Risk Management Policy (item 6)
• Simon Mair, Deputy Director, Place Based Service and Reform (item 3)
• Mary McAllan, Director of Public Service Reform (item 3)
• Nicola Richards, Director, People Directorate (item 7)
• Jim Robertson, NXD
• Jenny Stewart, NXD
• Kirsty Walker, Board Secretary 

Secretariat 

• Shaun Docherty, Policy Officer, ETSGO
• Corinne Dunthorne, Corporate Governance Officer, ETSGO
• Carolyn Younie, Head of Strategic Governance, ETSGO

Apologies

• Roy Brannen, DG Net Zero
• Caroline Lamb, DG Health and Social Care
• Ruaraidh MacNiven, Solicitor to the Scottish Government and Director, SGLD
• Neil Richardson, NXD

Items and actions

Welcome, apologies, declarations of interest, and minutes

The Chair welcomed members and attendees to the third meeting of the Corporate Board (CB) in 2025. A warm welcome was extended to Tom Taylor, newly appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Scottish Government Audit and Assurance Committee (SGAAC), and to Miriam Craven, newly appointed Director-General Communities, both attending their first CB meeting.
The Chair formally recorded his thanks to Alyson Stafford, Director General of the Scottish Exchequer, who is departing the Scottish Government and attending her final CB meeting. The Board expressed its sincere appreciation for Alyson’s outstanding contribution to public service over the past 20 years. During this time, Alyson served under five First Ministers and four Cabinet Secretaries and is credited with the successful delivery of 20 Scottish Budgets.
The minute of the meeting held on 17 June 2025 was approved as an accurate record. No declarations of interest were noted. The Board Secretary provided an update on actions, confirming that Action 245 has been reframed and is now marked as ongoing. It will be revisited at the December CB meeting.

SGAAC Chair update

The Chair of the Scottish Government Audit and Assurance Committee (SGAAC) provided a summary of key discussion points from the meeting held on 8 September 2025. Topics covered included: Workforce Planning, Artificial Intelligence, Fiscal Sustainability and Delivery Plan (FSDP), Path to Balance, cyber security reporting, and the draft Consolidated Accounts—with particular focus on the Performance Report.
The Chair confirmed that an extraordinary meeting of SGAAC will take place on 6 October 2025 to conduct a final review of the Consolidated Accounts.
In agreement with the Permanent Secretary, the Chair also noted that for all future Corporate Board meetings a draft minute of the most recent SGAAC meeting will be included in the CB paper pack.

Organisational health – public service reform (PSR)

The Director of Public Service Reform provided an overview of the recently published Public Service Reform (PSR) Strategy, highlighting the importance of a cross-Government approach to transforming public services.
The Deputy Director for Place-Based Service and Reform outlined the introduction of a new portfolio management approach to programme governance. This model is designed to strengthen accountability, foster collaboration, and empower effective delivery.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• the complexity of the programme, and the need for a robust governance framework underpinning it
• the advantages of transitioning from a distributed model to a Director-led, portfolio approach, which is expected to enhance accountability and improve delivery outcomes
• the importance of robust mechanisms for assessing and monitoring progress, including the use of existing Governance Forums and Corporate Efficiency Levers, which will be particularly valuable at the portfolio level
• the value of multiyear planning in enabling deeper cross-Government collaboration and supporting the tracking of reform progress over time
• the need for close collaboration with Exchequer colleagues to ensure strategic alignment, accurate recording of savings achieved, and appropriate external oversight

Annual Accounts

The Deputy Director for Corporate Finance provided a brief update on the Consolidated Accounts, following discussions at the recent SGAAC meeting. The Performance Report has been updated to reflect feedback received. The draft Annual Audit Report has been received and formal sign-off of the Accounts expected on 8 October for publication on 30 October.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• agreement in principle, subject to the resolution of outstanding audit matters, for the Accounts to proceed to SGAAC for final consideration
• audit Scotland’s Annual Audit Report and the Auditor General’s Section 22 report will be laid and published alongside the accounts

Organisational health – finance

The Director of Public Spending provided an overview of the planned fiscal strategies, the Scottish Spending Review, Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline and Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which are intended to accompany the 2026–27 Budget. The integration of these strategies with the Public Service Reform (PSR) agenda was acknowledged, and the Board was asked to note the actions already underway to support implementation.
The Chief Financial Officer then summarised the in-year financial position. An overview was provided of the current funding position across capital, resource, and financial transactions, along with the associated pressures, opportunities, and the controls in place to manage financial risk effectively.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• the actions underway to implement the Scottish Spending Review, Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline and Infrastructure Delivery Plan, and the importance of aligning allocative choices with strategic priorities
• the need for efficiency savings to be clearly identified and tracked

Organisational health – risk

The Head of Risk Management Policy provided an update on changes to the Scottish Government’s risk profile since March 2025, offered a forward look at anticipated developments, and considered the potential escalation of new risks to the SG Risk Register. 
The Director of Communications and Ministerial Support then outlined the internal work programme designed to support and guide the civil service during the pre-election period and beyond.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• the value of audit reviews and individual deep dives, alongside the need to consider broader risks that span multiple portfolios
• the potential of introducing an opportunities register
• the importance of enhanced analysis of risk controls and the interconnectivity of risks
• ongoing work to develop learning packages to ensure civil servants are fully supported and prepared ahead of the election period. The impartiality of the Civil Service and the implementation of appropriate processes to ensure internal readiness 

Organisational health - people

The People Director provided an overview of recent workforce discussions and confirmed that a workforce plan is being developed and in advance of formal agreement, appropriate actions are already underway including those linked to workforce reduction targets. A brief update was also provided on relevant HR management information and staff deployment.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• that the four-year workforce plan aligns with the PSR Strategy, bringing together activity, resource, and people planning
• the profile and risks associated with workforce reduction, and the continued importance of accurate and timely HR management information
• the need for a robust evidence base and the potential for new technologies to support delivery of the workforce plan’s key outcomes

Corporate governance: review of NXD role

The Board Secretary summarised the recent review of the role of Scottish Government Non-Executive Directors (NXDs) and introduced a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing their deployment within the SG governance system. The proposed approach seeks to maximise strategic impact and empower the NXD cohort to provide challenge, advice, and assurance on core governance commitments.

In discussion, the Board noted:

• endorsement of the proposed approach in principle, while recognising that further detail remains to be agreed
• the value of focusing NXD time and expertise on cross-cutting strategic issues, and the importance of continued engagement with Audit Scotland

Any other business

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 8th December 2025, which will include an item covering the National Performance Framework.