Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) Improvement: Stakeholder Reference Group minutes - April 2026

Attendees and apologies

Present

• Nick Bland, Deputy Director for Mainstreaming and Inclusion, Scottish Government (Chair)
• Lucy Pearson, City of Edinburgh Council
• Caroline McKellar, Society of Personnel and Development Scotland (SPDS) and City of Edinburgh Council
• Pamela Roccio, The Scottish Councils Equality Network (SCEN) and West Lothian Council
• Eilidh Fulton, Scottish Funding Council
• Caroline Hutchinson, EDI Scotland Colleges Network
• Louise Baggott, EDI Scotland Colleges Network
• Jillian Mathew, Audit Scotland
• Nicky Page, Police Scotland
• Louise Giblin, Non-Departmental Public Bodies Forum (NDPB) Equalities Forum and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Rosie Tyler-Greig, NHSS Equality and Diversity Leads Network - Special Boards and NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Lindsey Millen, Close the Gap
• Rebecca Richard, Inclusion Scotland
• Carol Young, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER)
• Erin Lux, Equality Network

Secretariat

• Scottish Government (SG) officials 

Apologies

• Simon Cameron, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Catherine Whitaker, COSLA
• Emma Chattington, Orkney Island Council
• Catherine Canning, Scottish Funding Council
• Coralie Colburn, NHSS Equality and Diversity Leads Network - Special Boards and Scottish Ambulance Service 
• Laura Hutchinson, NHSS Equality and Diversity Leads Network - Territorial Boards and NHS Lothian
• Hina Sheikh, NHSS Equality and Diversity Leads Network - Territorial Boards and NHS Lanarkshire 
• Jill Wood, Engender

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions 

Members were welcomed to the meeting by the chair. Apologies were noted and new members were introduced. 

Terms of reference (TOR) 

The chair noted the updated tor for the public sector equality duty (PSED) improvement stakeholder reference group. This included a revised purpose, objectives and schedule for meeting frequency and a commitment to publish summarised anonymised meeting minutes on the gov.scot website. It was noted that these minutes would not be published until after a new administration had been formed following the scottish parliamentary elections (May 2026). Members raised no specific objections and the chair asked the secretariat to note that the tor was approved. 

Regulation 11 use – reflections and evaluation

A discussion took place on the use of regulation 11 powers (under the scottish specific duties) for first in December 2025 by the then minister for equalities. It was noted that this was in the form of a letter to public bodies in Scotland, asking them to consider the mainstreaming toolkit and how it could support them to meet their PSED obligations. Members were asked for feedback on the ministerial letter and a proposed approach to evaluation. In terms of feedback, it was noted that:

• many members welcomed the mainstreaming toolkit as a useful practical resource for public bodies in embedding equality and human rights
• the tone of the ministerial letter was positively received. However, views on the timing of issue were mixed
• concerns were raised about ensuring letters reach the correct recipients within organisations, although all members were now aware of it 
• members welcomed the approach to evaluation via a short feedback survey, and agreed to share this through their networks, where possible

Fostering good relations questions

A discussion took place in relation to scottish public bodies understanding of the need to foster good under the PSED and questions that the SG would find useful to explore with members. It was agreed that these questions would be circulated to members following the meeting – alongside with the regulation 11 feedback survey – for members and their networks to respond to by a set deadline. 

Regulation 12 report and proposals

A discussion took place on the process to inform and develop scottish minister’s proposals for enabling better performance of the PSED in Scotland, as published in the regulation 12 report 2025-29. It was noted that:

• positive feedback was provided on the focus of the proposals, including fostering good relations, greater stakeholder involvement, considerations for introducing action plans and broader leadership and capacity building activities
• members welcomed SG’s engagement on proposals and the approach to establishment of this group in this initial from but noted that more time to shape and inform proposals in the future would be helpful
• the wider mainstreaming suite of publications (mainstreaming strategy, action plan, toolkit and regulation 12 report) were viewed by most members as valuable, but given the complexity they would need further time to digest fully as a package

Draft roadmap – regulation 12 proposals

A discussion took place on the draft ‘roadmap’ aimed at supporting delivery of proposed activity from the regulation 12 report 2025-29.  It was noted that:

• the layout was clear and well-structured
• clear communication and guidance from the equality and human rights commission would be useful to support wider PSED compliance
• given the pre-election period, the draft roadmap will need to go to the new minister for approval once in post

Roadmap phase 1 progress update

A discussion was had about the progress update provided on for phase 1 of the draft roadmap, covering the period from December 2025 to May 2026. The progress update was well received; with feedback noting that the format was useful and easier to follow and all activity appearing on track.

Any other business

A discussion was had highlighting research being undertaken on the PSED law and implementation by Glasgow university and members representing public bodies were encouraged to consider participation. 

The chair provided a summary of the key points and actions from the meeting. 

The chair also noted that the next meeting will be scheduled in due course but is expected in late August or early September 2026.

Action points

• secretariat to follow up with one member on their organisation’s response to the regulation 11 letter
• secretariat to circulate regulation 11 survey and fostering good relations questions; members to share within their networks
• members to provide any additional written feedback on the roadmap to the secretariat before the end of April 2026
• secretariat to circulate draft minutes and issue next meeting invites ahead of next meeting – due late August/early September 2026