Senior Leadership team meeting - 26 August 2025
- Minutes and action log from previous meeting
- Commissioner's update report
- Corporate communications update
- Policy documents
- Training
- Finance
- Any other business
Attendees
Amanda Black Principal Solicitor (AB)
Ilya Zharov Head of Reviews and Policy (IZ)
Irina Wilkie Head of Communications (IW)
Janice Carter Information Officer (JC) (agenda item 9 only)
Jennifer Fisher Secretariat (JLF)
Laura Duguid Finance Manager (LD)
Laura Paton Commissioner (LP) (chair)
Raymond Brown Head of Investigations (RB)
Sharon Smit Head of Corporate Service & Accountable Officer (SS)
Welcome and Apologies
LP opened the meeting and welcomed all Senior Leadership Team (SLT) members.
Apologies
Apologies were noted from Phil Chapman, Director of Operations (PC) and Sharon Clelland, Head of Legal Services (SC).
Matters proposed to be considered in private.
SLT agreed to consider agenda items 9 - 16 in private, for the reasons set out on the agenda.
Minutes and Action Log from previous meeting
Draft Minutes
SLT approved the minutes of the July 2025 meeting with one correction
7.1 – Management Accounts
Amend to read “LD provided an overview of the Management Accounts….”
Action Log
The action log was reviewed - all concluded actions were removed from the action log.
Commissioner’s Update Report
Update Report
LP provided an overview of the Commissioner’s Update report (circulated at the meeting), highlighting the following:
Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry
Noted the Chair’s decision not to recuse himself and the continued involvement of assessors.
Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill and Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviours Reviews (Scotland) Bills
Both Bills and any potential implications for PIRC, will be considered as part of the ongoing Strategic Review.
LP and SC met with the Criminal Justice Modernisation Bill team in late July 2025. Further feedback from that meeting is still pending, and a further update will be provided once available.
Criminal Justice Committee – Pre-budget scrutiny 2026/2027
PIRC will submit evidence to the committee ahead of the submission deadline (9 September) highlighting operational pressures and upcoming legislative implementation (PECSS Bill).
Meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
LP advised she was meeting with Ms Constance later this afternoon to discuss the Terms of Reference for the upcoming Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry[1]. Further update will be provided when available.
Members noted the update provided.
Corporate Communications Update
Update Report
Further to the report (circulated in advance), IW provided the following update:
PIRC Business Plan
A draft copy of the Business Plan was circulated to SLT, Audit and Accountability Committee and SG Sponsor Team members on 26 August. Any feedback will be reviewed and progressed ahead of publication.
Strategic Review
Strategic Review is progressing – questionnaires are now completed. IW / SS will progress with the Community Cohesion plan (previously circulated).
Annual Report
Annual Report nearing completion – Commissioner’s foreword in final stages. Next steps – Design Management (with accessibility checks) and Comms including social media posts.
IZ to review and confirm accuracy of Operation Glade data set referenced within report. SS asked that final reviews are undertaken as a matter of urgency as the draft report will be sent to external auditors on Friday 29 August.
Revised Scheme of Delegation
Quarterly review of recently revised Scheme of Delegation undertaken – no changes required at this time.
Media lines
“If asked” media responses prepared for several sensitive / complex Investigations and CHRs.
Training
IW and Communications Officer attended training provided by Onclusive on 22 August 2025 as part of continual professional development and maximisation of our communications media management platform.
HR Portal
HR Portal amendments completed. Internal testing ids being arranged and content sign off with SLT in progress. Portal aspirational ‘go live’ is 1 October.
Staff Communications
Nine communications issued in July (e.g. wellbeing and strategic planning).
LinkedIn activity has declined across metrics. Facebook scoping exercise underway in response to Ofcom data indicating its prominence in Scottish news consumption. Further update to be provided when available.
Members noted the updates provided.
Training
Training Update Report
In addition to the report, (circulated in advance), SS noted the following updates.
Efficiency Savings
SS highlighted the notable savings from training courses delivered by Police Scotland were now included in the report (IIISC, Crime Scene Manager etc). SS noted that training efficiency savings will continue to be reported to SLT. SS requested that members report any efficiencies to the Training Coordinator as they arise.
Members noted the updates provided.
Finance
Management Accounts to end July 2025
LD provided an overview of the Management Accounts to the end of July 2025 (circulated in advance), highlighting the following:
Grant in Aid (GIA) cash drawn down related to spend was £87k below original budget for July 2025.
Vacancy Efficiency has been set as a negative budget line to support overall budget balancing for 2025/2026.
Staff costs are underspent by approx. £77k YTD, attributable to ongoing staffing vacancies. This phased underspend has been forecast across all months and is expected to be resolved following the conclusion of pay negotiations.
Accommodation costs were overspent by approx. £26k in July 2025, due to timing of invoice submissions.
Marketing and Media overspend of £305 in July due to additional CHR costs. YTD variance due to budgeting phasing.
Underspend in legal fees due to delays with the ongoing Public Inquiry.
The latest forecast submitted to SG confirms that PIRC is operating in line with its monthly budget allocation.
Further to the circulated report, LD and SS provided members with additional updates on the following matters.
Confirmation of the Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) received. The ABR letter confirms SG’s contributions towards National Insurance.
An Invoice for Oracle Cloud Licence Costs for 2026/27 received – staff are currently working to provide a detailed breakdown of associated costs.
Spending Review commission prepared and returned to SG, forecasting financial projections through to 2029/30 based on current staffing levels.
SS / LD to review and progress a business case submission incorporating anticipated increased costs linked to implementation of the PECSS Bill.
Members noted the updates provided.
Policy Documents
PIRC Publications Policy
IW provided an overview of the Publications Policy (circulated in advance).
Following discussion, members requested that the following amendments are considered.
Page 4 - additional hyperlinks to Human Rights Act and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 to be added
Policy to be amended and recirculated to members.
Members did not approve the amended Publication policy at this time.
PIRC Digital Strategy
SS provided an overview of the amendments made to the PIRC Digital Strategy (circulated in advance).
Following discussion, members requested that the following amendments are considered.
Page 8, item 4.7 – “AG” to be replaced with “SG”
Page 10, item 6 – list to include “explore opportunities and threats presented by Artificial Intelligence”.
With the above amendments, members approved the Digital Strategy.
PIRC Whistleblowing Policy
The amended Whistleblowing Policy was circulated for approval via correspondence on 14 August 2025.
Members approved the amended policy as circulated.
AOCB
Nil of note.