Senior Management Team Meeting - Minutes - 24 February 2026

Attendees

  • Alison Irvine (AI) Chief Executive - Chair
  • Catherine Jess – Gibson (CJG) Interim Director of FCS
  • Bettina Sizeland (BS) Director of TIC
  • Fiona Brown (FB) Director of SPA
  • Chris Wilcock (CW) Director of Ferries and Ports
  • Mary Docherty (MD) Director of BCAT
  • Morna Cannon (MC) Director of ECS
  • Hugh Gillies (HG) Director of Roads
  • Bill Reeve (BR) Director of Rail Reform
  • Lawrence Shackman (LS) Director of Infrastructure Projects
  • Graeme Cook Director of Rail Delivery
  • David Swanson (DS) Corporate Governance Manager
  • Joanne Demarco (JD) Head of Human Resources
  • Steven Wyllie (SW) Corporate Governance Manager
  • Andy Pope (AP) Head of Corporate Governance
  • Gillian Steele (GS) Head of Finance
  • Lesley MacLeod (LM) Non Executive Member
  • Iain Stewart (IS) Non Executive Member

CEO Office

  • Mark Dunlop
  • Pam Yorke

Welcome

AI welcomed attendees and highlighted recent communications issued to SG regarding recruitment, advising the messaging relates to SG Core, Senior Management Team (SMT) continue to monitor and ensure adequate staffing levels across TS.

Finance Update

GS provided a brief update on the wider SG position on resource and capital budgets for context.

Budget 2026/27

  • Budget allocations will be managed within Directorates, aligned with workforce plans and total pay costs.
  • Initial headlines were shared from work undertaken so far.
  • Pay budgets to be agreed for each Directorate.
  • SMT agreed clarification was needed on how unfilled vacancies appear within workplans.
  • An additional layer of governance was proposed:
  • Sub‑group to feed into SMT.
  • DS noted the requirement for a clearer process on unfilled vacancies which required more development.

Spending Review

  • CJG advised a paper was being prepared which outlined a proposed path to financial balance for the Cabinet Secretary and would be shared with SMT.
  • SMT were asked to ensure all Accountable Officer templates articulate why spend is essential.

Risk Management

  • AP advised the Risk Management Group is concluding the current cycle and will feed into SMT.
  • Directors are asked to review target dates.
  • Significant incidents risks are being split into two separate risks and will return to next SMT.
  • Risks should ideally contain five clear actions/controls each.
  • Business Plan work is underway and the risk register should read across directly to the Business Plan.
  • Demand Forecast coming to an Risk Management Group in March.

Budget Risk

GS provided an update on the budget risk noting

  • Finance had two risks; one in‑year risk has been closed and removed from the register.
  • New 26/27 risk for Path to Balance has been introduced.
  • Spending Review budget risk remains unchanged (score 200 vs target 150).
  • Target score for 26/27 should be 50; planned actions (due September) need expanded detail.
  • It was noted risks will need to be reviewed again following the elections.
  • Risk appetite work is ongoing to align with DG.
  •  A clear plan is required for incoming Ministers.

Corporate Dashboard

  • SW discussed the PQ/MR performance dip and advised there was a reported increase in redrafts
  • FOI complexity was highlighted and SMT discussed the measuring of complexity (e.g., number of questions within each request). SW was asked to review and provide staff training on handling more complex cases.
  • SW advised the action from the last meeting on L&D spend would be brought to the next SMT.

TTT Business Improvement

  • FB updated on the formation of the hubs and the future structure of the unit.
  • A series of continuous improvement projects were outlined and will continue to develop via the Business Improvement Working Group.
  • Business Plan updates have already commenced.
  • SMT agreed with the content and the direction of efficiency improvements.
  • Agreed core messages to be shared with teams (e.g. Saltire articles).
  • Collaboration required with Anne and her team to agree prioritisation and timelines.

AOB

There was no other business.

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Published Date 17 Mar 2026 Type Topic