Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) - Minutes of Quarterly Board Meeting - 29 July 2025
Attendees
- Chair: Anya Kettles, MACS Convener (AK)
- Simon Watkins, MACS Vice-Convener & Rail Lead (SW)
- Anne MacLeod, MACS Ferries & Aviation Lead (AM)
- Catherine Barile, MACS Member (CB)
- Elliot Cooper, MACS Member (EC)
- Joanne Devitt, MACS Member (JD)
- Susan Fulton (SF)
- Lynsey Shovlin, MACS Member (LS)
- Zara Todd. MACS Member (ZT)
- Michael Tornow, MACS Member (MT)
- Naghat Ahmed, MACS Member (NA)
- Joanne Parker, MACS Sponsor (JP)
- David Keltie-Armstrong, MACS Head of Secretariat (DKA)
- Malcolm McRobbie (MM)
Apologies
- Lynn Pilkington (LP)
Presenters
- Gurur Deniz Uyanik, Policy Connect
Agenda Item 1: Welcome, Apologies and Housekeeping – AK
AK welcomed everyone to the meeting and covered housekeeping. Confirmed apologies from LP.
Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes and Action Points from Previous Board Meeting - AK
AK led the group through the previous action points inviting comment from the committee.
Update on Action Points
Action Point 1: SW asked Secretariat to circulate smart ticketing information more widely to relevant MACS members.
Status: Complete – Secretariat will request an update from NSTAB. See AP2.
Action Point 2: DKA to progress the proposal for a spotlight session focused on smart ticketing.
Status: Complete - A Spotlight Session had been discussed with the Sponsor of the National Smart Ticket Advisory Board (NSTAB) for the July Board, this has since been overtaken by the Development Day. An invitation will be extended again to the Chair of NSTAB and the Sponsor/Smart Ticketing Policy Lead to present to the next MACS Board meeting in October.
Action Point 3: Secretariat to follow up with Scott Allen regarding Traveline staging access for MT.
Status: In Progress – Secretariat have emailed for an update and will follow-up again and update MT. Last release of updates was April 2025.
Action Point 4: Minutes to include clearer spacing between individual action points for accessibility.
Status: Complete
Action Point 5: JD to review the Easy Read version of the Islands Connectivity Plan.
Status: Complete – JD has provided the feedback
Action Point 6: LP to provide CalMac with feedback on its proposal for a low sensory space.
Status: Complete – LP has provided the feedback.
Action Point 7: DKA to book a meeting with AM to discuss their report to Mr Fairlie by end of week.
Status: Complete – meeting has occurred. Officials in Health and Social Care had briefed Mr Fairlie and a number of meetings have taken place with officials and Ministers.
Minutes approved
Agenda Item 3: Workstream Leads Update
Workstream leads to give any updates
Rail
SW: Transport Scotland is proposing to enhance the Access for All budget to accelerate station accessibility improvements in Scotland. Good news is this funding appears to be going ahead.
Ferries and Aviation
AM: Met recently with TS Ferries team who have advised on the commitment to reopen the Ferries Accessibility Fund and expansion to include air services.
SF: Asked if there was any update on becoming a member of the Prestwick Airport Access Panel.
Action 1: DKA to seek an update from TS Ferries on when the fund is likely to reopen and what the application process will look like. MACS keen to be involved in the full application process.
Action 2: DKA has received no update on this after sending SFs contact details but will follow-up with TS Accessible Travel Team and refer back to SF.
Public and Community Transport
The UK Bus Services Bill is currently progressing through UK Parliament and a watching brief is being maintained by Secretariat to the knock-on implications for Scotland. Discussion around an amendment to the legislation requiring he Secretary of State to issue guidance on Bus Stop Bypasses, likely to apply in England only. Question on whether the Bill will progress other accessibility needs, such as onboard announcements.
Action 3: DKA will liaise with TS Bus officials and seek an update on the Bill.
[in-meeting note – jumped to Agenda Item 4 and returned to this section afterwards]
Active Travel and Infrastructure
SF drew awareness to the work of SUSTRANS around EqIAs in her report. An EqIA training package will be available to local authorities as part of the previous funding partnership with TS, Members agreed it would be helpful to get an overview of this from SUSTRANS, SW suggested a Spotlight session at a future Board.
SRWC Conference will be later in the year and would be important for MACS to be present. SRWC have enquired if recorded footage of roadworks accessibility is possible.
Action 4: MT to prepare a draft position paper on Bus Stop Bypasses following recent advice given to Transport Scotland.
Action 5: SF to liaise with SUSTRANS on providing an overview for MACS Members of the training package.
Action 6: All – if interested in recording footage for SRWC Conference please contact Susan or Secretariat.
Agenda Item 4: Spotlight Session – Policy Connect
Presenter: Gurur Deniz Uyanik
Key Points
Accessible transport in the UK faces significant systemic barriers that reduce disabled people's journey frequency by 38%. A coordinated, inclusive reform roadmap is proposed to improve accessibility across all devolved nations, emphasizing coproduction, accountability, and integration.
A copy of the document presented will be sent to Members with these Minutes, noting embargo. Report will be launched on 09 September 2025.
Agenda Item 5: AOB
Agenda for this meeting was changed at the last minute – it would be helpful to cover this off at the top of the meeting to avoid confusion. AK noted.
Secretariat recruitment
The vacancy of Secretariat Policy and Support Officer has been advertised and closed on 16 July. DKA and JP will be conducting interviews in August to appoint until January 2026.
MACS new Members recruitment
Initial discussions have been held with SG Public Appointments team and a full plan should be in place by September. Looking to appoint up to five Members in this round.
Anti-social behaviour – call for volunteers
A working group looking to tackle the perception of antisocial behaviour in terms of under-22 bus passes is being set up by TS. MT indicated he would be content to take this forward and would also be of interest to Public Health Scotland. NA and JD also noted an interest in this area.
Action 7: DKA to put MT in touch with TS officials leading.
Action Points
Action 1: DKA to seek an update from TS Ferries on when the fund is likely to reopen and what the application process will look like. MACS keen to be involved in the full application process.
Action 2: DKA has received no update on this after sending SFs contact details but will follow-up with TS Accessible Travel Team.
Action 3: DKA will liaise with TS Bus officials and seek an update on the Bill.
Action 4: MT to prepare a draft position paper on Bus Stop Bypasses following recent advice given to Transport Scotland.
Action 5: SF to liaise with SUSTRANS on providing an overview for MACS Members of the training package.
Post-meeting note: SW raised a clarification that MACS may require specific training on assessing EQIA’s, based on this system. A presentation, by way of overview, will be given at October Board by way of overview and training to be scoped and costed for incorporation into Scoping Day or a dedicated Development Day in current FY. AF/JP to progress with SF.
Action 6: All – if interested in recording footage for SRWC Conference please contact Susan or Secretariat.
Action 7: DKA to put MT in touch with TS officials leading on anti-social behaviour.