Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) - Minutes of Quarterly Board Meeting - 28 January 2026

Attendees

  • Chair: Anya Kettles
  • Anne MacLeod, MACS Ferries & Aviation Lead (AM)
  • Anya Kettles, MACS Convener (AK)
  • Catherine Barile, MACS Member (CB)
  • Elliot Cooper, MACS Member (EC)
  • Lesley Macinnes, MACS Public & Community Transport Lead (LM)
  • Naghat Ahmed, MACS Member (NA)
  • Simon Watkins, MACS Vice-Convener & Rail Lead (SW)
  • Zara Todd, MACS Member (ZT)
  • Andrew Witty, Observer (AW)
  • Diana Winfield, Observer (DW)
  • Kate Samuels, Observer (KS)
  • Rachel Birch, Observer (RB)
  • MACS Head of Secretariat (MAK)
  • MACS Sponsor (JP)
  • Transport Portfolio Coordinator (SL)

Apologies

  • Lynsey Shovlin, MACS Member (LS)
  • Michael Tornow, MACS Member (MT)
  • Susan Fulton, MACS Active Travel & Infrastructure Lead (SF)

Presenters

  • Accessible Travel Team Leader, Transport Scotland (JW)

Agenda Item 1: Welcome, Apologies and Housekeeping - AK

AK welcomed everyone to the meeting and covered housekeeping and confirmed apologies.

Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes - AK

AK led the group through the previous action points inviting comment from the committee and previous minutes were approved.

Action point 1: JP to confirm that letters have gone out to unsuccessful candidates.

Update on Actions

Action point 1

AK to write to Virgin airline a letter to state how good customer service was.

Closed

Action point 2

NSTAB smart ticketing update.

Ongoing - will be circulated following NSTAB’s February Board.

Action point 3 - AK

Stated that next year meeting dates should be put in now and we can move if needed.

Closed

Action point 4

The current ‘Red Book’ guidance is being updated and DPTAC have had sight, and we understand input into this guidance. DKA will drop Susan a note on how we can move forward to have a similar role to DPTAC. Four nations meeting is coming up in early December.

Ongoing

Action Point 5

AF to circulate presentation along with Excel Toolkit.

Closed

Action point 6

KQ will liaise with DKA to provide updates going forward.

Closed

Action point 7

Board dates will be sent out in the next week or two due to MACS secretariat changes.

Closed

Action point 8

AK stated that her and JP will contact public appointments to see if we can offer some advice/ signposting in our unsuccessful letters.

Closed

Action point 9

DKA to undertake an urgent review of the data published online to ensure any personal information has been removed.

Closed - no personal information had been published on MACS website.

Agenda Item 3: Updates from Leads/Convener

Convener

AK: Induction process being developed with MAK. Social media management will now be taken over by AK with Secretariat able to access going forward. Discussion around how to proceed with workstream meetings if lead is absent.

Action point 2: All workstream leads to consider deputies with their workstreams. This will be evaluated in upcoming skills audit.

Rail

SW: To cover Railways Bill later in agenda.

Ferries and Aviation

AM: Nothing new outside report.

Public and Community Transport

LM: Getting workstream back up and running after illness and pulling together actions for next year based on workplan. Will be in touch with members to arrange a workstream meeting in due course.

Active Travel

ZT: Meeting to go ahead on Monday in person.

Motability Subgroup

NA - Attended Motability Transport Equity event. Update on discussions which took place focused on wheelchair accessibility and accessibility on EV Charging. MACS to be invited to a subsequent meeting with Motability Operations once proposals on Motability are presented. MACS and MO to arrange meeting to discuss further.

Action point 3 - MAK and JP to investigate file-sharing system, with a spotlight session on training once established.

Agenda Item 4: 2026/27 Workplan & Strategic Plan - MAK

MAK shared an overview of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. Comments from members were positive. LM and SW suggested that an item should be added to July agenda to revisit to ensure plan still fits post-election.

Action point 4: Item to be added to July agenda to revisit Strategic Plan with consideration of election result.

MAK shared Draft Workplan 2026-2027. Discussion took place around restructuring workstreams and ensuring that members skills, knowledge and expertise are being utilised. Discussion on where certain topics should sit within MACS workstreams, particularly Motability and digital and technology developments.

Action point 5: MAK to share presentation.

Action point 6: Link to NaviLens article to be shared with everyone

Action point 7: AM to review wording on Stornoway/Benbecula flight objective to make it broader in aviation terms.

Action point 8: Contact Aviation colleagues to boost engagement with MACS in this space and build contacts.

Agenda Item 5: Rail Paper

SW is pursuing an amendment in the Railways Bill to ensure there is a strong disabled representation on the passenger council. SW sought formal permission from MACS to carry out this work which was approved. SW has been in contact with Scott Arthur MP on this matter.

Agenda Item 6: ATF Paper

SW provided an update on the successor to the Accessible Travel Framework as this is the first time it has come to the MACS Board. A paper outlining MACS position on the ATF Successor was shared with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in December, who responded positively.

Discussion took place around the ATF being closer tied to the National Transport Strategy. SW explained that the content is still being developed and should be specific, measurable items.

SW has asked each workstream to suggest priorities. SW gave an update on rail priorities for the ATF.

ZT commented that emergency/resilience planning for disabled people on transport should be considered.

Action point 9: MAK to include emergency/resilience planning in MACS Workplan and establish contact with Transport Scotland resilience colleagues.

The blind companion concessionary scheme was discussed, and members are keen that this be extended across modes and to all disabled people.

AM noted that individual areas across the Ferries and Aviation sectors are developing their own disability standards, but a national standard across modes is vital. AM requested more consistency with concessionary entitlement across all modes of transport.

ZT suggested more consistent roll out of visual and audio announcement systems on buses.

AM also noted contract for Western Isles buses was due for renewal and MACS input on contract development had been sought.

MACS agreed the paper and the priorities which will be sent to Transport Scotland’s Accessible Travel Team Leader, JW.

JW thanked MACS fir their input and highlighted the DfT’s upcoming Accessible Travel Charter. JW also confirmed that the ATF Successor is engaging with the NTS2 team and the EHRC, to ensure it is robust with measurable equality outcomes.

Agenda Item 8: Update on New Member Recruitment

AK welcomed new members who were observing the board meeting. Introductions took place between existing MACS Members and new recruits.

AK and MAK thanked NA and MT for their hard work and valuable contributions to MACS over their terms, as their appointments come to an end. AK, MACS and MACS Secretariat & Sponsor wish them both the very best of luck for their future, with gratuity for all their effort and time dedicated to making transport more accessible for disabled people.

Agenda Item 10: AOB - AK

JW provided an accessible travel update and mentioned engagement which has taken place as the accessible travel framework is developed.

JP mentioned the upcoming election and the pre-election guidance.

Action point 10 - JP to distribute pre-election guidance to the Committee.

SW enquired about the process for allocating new and existing members to agile workstreams. AK informed that a Skills Audit will be issued soon.

Action Point 11 - Outstanding performance appraisals to be completed, with AK to review appraisal structure and processes.

Agenda Item 11: Close - AK

AK thanked the Committee for their time and closed the meeting.

Action Points

Action point 1: JP to confirm that letters have gone out to unsuccessful candidates.

Action point 2: All workstream leads to consider deputies with their workstreams. This will be evaluated in upcoming skills audit.

Action point 3: MAK and JP to investigate file-sharing system, with a spotlight session on training once established.

Action point 4: Item to be added to July agenda to revisit Strategic Plan with consideration of election result.

Action point 5: MAK to share presentation.

Action point 6: Link to NaviLens article to be shared with everyone

Action point 7: AM to review wording on Stornoway/Benbecula flight objective to make it broader in aviation terms.

Action point 8: Contact Aviation colleagues to boost engagement with MACS in this space and build contacts.

Action point 9: MAK to include emergency/resilience planning in MACS Workplan and establish contact with Transport Scotland resilience colleagues.

Action point 10: JP to distribute pre-election guidance to the Committee.

Action Point 11: Outstanding performance appraisals to be completed, with AK to review appraisal structure and processes.