Single Scottish Estate: Public Sector Property Forum – March 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Alasdair Barrie, Scottish Government
• Alasdair McKillop, Scottish Government
• Alex Lane, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Archie Macgregor, Scottish Water
• Arlene (Fox) Stuart, SSE PMO, Scottish Government
• Bastian Altrock, Forestry and Land Scotland 
• Candice Warnock, SSE PMO, Scottish Government
• Chris Reddick, Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
• Colin Spivey, Parole Board for Scotland
• Craig Jackson, Scottish Government
• Craig Naylor, HMICS 
• Darren Coyle, Revenue Scotland
• David Lyon, Scottish Government
• David Swanson, Transport Scotland 
• Elizabeth Gregor, Disclosure Scotland 
• Elizabeth Thomson, Parole Board for Scotland
• Erin Durham, Scottish Government
• Ewen Scott, Scottish Government
• Fiona MacTaggart, SEPA
• Fiona Paterson, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
• Gordon Alexander, Scottish Futures Trust 
• Heather Niven, Skills Development Scotland
• Helen Gibson, Scottish Funding Council 
• Ian Allen, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
• Ian Bowie, Scottish Government
• John Rough, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd
• Judith Shaw, Scottish Government
• Keith Sefton, National Museums Scotland
• Keith Wishart, Forestry and Land Scotland
• Kirsty Lamb, Scottish Government
• Linda MacMillan, National Library of Scotland
• Lisa Goldie, Scottish Government
• Lisa McGregor, Food Standards Scotland
• Louise Burnet, Scottish Legal Complaints Commission 
• Luke McGuire, Scottish Government 
• Marco Meoni, Scottish Government
• Margaret Syme, Scottish Government
• Mark Dorrian, SSE PMO, Scottish Government 
• Mark Jummun, Social Security Scotland
• Mark Wilcock, Forestry and Land Scotland
• Michael Stevens, REDRESS
• Michelle Brand, Scottish Government
• Morag Angus (Chief Surveyor), Scottish Government
• Natalie Greenland. Food Standards Scotland
• Neil Milligan, Scottish Government 
• Nicholas Breslin, SSE PMO, Scottish Government 
• Nicola Rudnicki, Social Security Scotland
• Nicole Whitbread, SSE PMO, Scottish Government
• Paula Fern, Scottish Government
• Paula Ward, South of Scotland Enterprise
• Paul Keoghan, Risk Management Authority 
• Rebecca Peppiette, Environmental Standards
• Rhona Ford, HMICS
• Ruth MacDonald, Scottish Futures Trust
• Ryan Bell, Scottish Funding Council
• Sarah Begg, Scottish Government
• Scott McEwen, Scottish Government
• Siobhan Rammell, Scottish Enterprise
• Sophie Farnell, Risk Management Authority 
• Steven Harrison, Parole Board for Scotland
• Steven Noble, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting and encouraged attendees to invite their colleagues. The forum was open to everyone with an interest and one of the aims of the forum was to grow its membership. 

Previous minutes and matters arising

The Chair noted that the minutes of the previous meeting of October 2025 had not yet been circulated. There had been a technical issue which is being resolved. Going forward, minutes and materials will be shared quickly after forum sessions.

Chair asked if there were any matters arising to be discussed.  None.

Property data standard for InSite

A presentation on the Data Standard and InSite was given by Erin Durham and David Lyon from the Single Scottish Estate (SSE) team.

Key points: 

• InSite was launched in April 2025, replacing e-PIMS, to hold data on all public sector property. It was realised quite quickly that guidance was needed for public bodies as the data was either out of date or incomplete
• the Property Data Standard was launched in December 2025 to ensure transparency, unified data recording, and to enable better estate management decisions. The Standard only requires useful and purposeful data. Some fields in InSite are mandatory though and, while this cannot be avoided, it is not too burdensome
• since its launch improvements have been made. One of these is that organisations can now see each other’s data. This enables transparent sharing of property data to support planning and collaboration.
• vacant space can be recorded. Public bodies can also advertise vacant space before it becomes vacant and this could avoid occupancy lags
• public bodies are still the data owners of the data on InSite and must comply with the standard
• annual assurance and validation are necessary to ensure data is current. Public bodies are encouraged to start work on this now
• the data standard is a living document. Feedback and challenge are welcome and it is fully expected that it will be periodically updated
• public bodies were encouraged to engage with InSite. A User Guide is available and Erin and David were happy to provide advice and support

Programme update

Fox Stuart, SSE Programme Manager, gave an update in the Programme.

Key points:

• the objectives of the Single Scottish Estate were described: Estate, People, Financial, Net-Zero and Data
• the recently recruited PMO team were introduced. There are now three Project Managers and a Project Officer, together with Fox as Programme Manager
• it was underlined that the SSE Programme was a collaborative effort with multi-stakeholder steering groups or project boards to be in place for deliveries
• location Based Reviews were being progressed in Inverness and Edinburgh
• a data project was being initiated to improve use and awareness of InSite
• members were asked to get in touch if there was an opportunity to promote the SSE Programme.  The mailbox for the SSE Programme is SSE@gov.scot

Mark Nelson from East Lothian Council stated that the local authority was looking at their estate. They had six local hubs and were looking for partners. Fox said that the Programme would be happy to discuss. Mark will email into the sse mailbox.

Forum member knowledge exchange - Battery Box

Ben Wallace from AMP Clean Energy gave a presentation about the Battery Box
Key Points:

• electricity demand was set to double by 2030.
• there were peak times during the day when demand was highest 
• the variability of supply of of renewable energy was a vulnerability
• Battery Box stored energy locally and avoided the need for expensive top ups of energy (reinforcements)
• it is quiet, safe, occupies a twenty-four sqm footprint and each one saves an estimated 160 Tonnes of carbon per year. It is plugged into the local network, not specific buildings. The lease term is 30 years. Remuneration provided
• If any members are interested in the Battery Box, contact details are provided

Ben was asked if the Battery Box could be bought instead of leased. Ben pointed out that it was not used by the property it was on but instead fed into the local electricity supply. 

Any other business and date of next meeting

Fox raised that the SSE Programme will be using the Procurement and Property Blogs and social media to share information on the programme.  This will include future meetings of the forum.  Fox asked attendees to follow and share with colleagues. The blog is accessible at: Public Procurement and Property Public Procurement and Property - Scottish Government Blog

Chair noted that no further AOB had been received in writing and asked if anyone wished to raise AOB orally.  None raised.

Chair thanked everyone for their attendance. The next meeting will be 15 July 2026. Details to be sent out in due course.