Senior Management Team Meeting - Minutes - 30 August 2022
Attendees
Chair
Michelle Quinn (MQ) – Chief Executive
AMFC
Frances Pacitti (FP) – Director
BAAT
Bettina Sizeland (BS) – Director
FCS
Kerry Twyman (KT) – Director
David Swanson (DS) – Head of Corporate Services
Andy Pope (AP) – Head of Corporate Governance
Joanne Demarco (JD) – Head of HR
LCE
Stuart Greig (SG) – Director
Major Projects
Lawrence Shackman (LS) – Director
Rail
Bill Reeve (BR) - Director
Roads
Stewart Leggett (SL) – Director
TSA
Fiona Brown (FB) – Director
Secretariat
Gillian McCole (GM) – Head of Chief Executive Office
Pamela Yorke (PY) – Head of Secretariat
Steven Wyllie (SW) – Corporate Governance Manager
General Update (All)
MR provided a general update to the Senior Management team on work in Transport Scotland and updates provided from the Minister.
BS discussed the reporting on the Under 22 bus travel, and gave an update on the budgeting for the bus service operator grants (BSOG).
FB outlined the TSA work that has gone into the Programme for Government (PfG) and cost of living papers. FB also discussed the work on the Climate Change plan and the next steps.
LS updated the meeting on progress with the A9 dualling project, as well as some details on the M8 improvement works.
SL discussed ongoing asset management works across Scotland’s road network. He also highlighted discussions around the Safety Cameras Programme in more rural areas of the network.
FP provided and update on the current ferries progress along with other areas of work under aviation.
SG discussed work ongoing with the Charge Place Scotland (CPS) network and the continued effort to ensure that reliability remains high.
BR provided updates for the Rail Directorate and ScotRail Holdings. He also discussed the hydrogen trains conference and the outputs from that day.
Risk Update
AP provided and update on the Corporate Risk Register. It was agreed that SMT should discuss with their risk leads and provide feedback on drafting to incorporating risks onto the register.
KT discussed the scoring of risks, asking that risk leads ensure they are accurately representing the real likelihood and impact for risks. They also pointed to some risks descriptions that could be revised to provide greater clarity.
AP explained that going forward high-level risks would be presented quarterly to the Audit & Risk Committee (ARC). This will provide an additional layer of assurance to Transport Scotland’s highest rated risks.
Finance
KT provided the SMT with an update on the TS current in-year financial position and projections. KT also discussed the external financial pressures on the Government as a whole, with issues such as the cost crisis affecting Scottish communities and individuals.
KT explained that work on the 2023/24 budget was about to commence and Directorates should engage with finance business partners.
Correspondence (SW)
SW shared the monthly correspondence document and discussed the figures and workloads across the organisation.
FP asked about weekly reporting to help understand where cases are at one on a more regular basis. SW explained that more details were available via central systems.
MQ reminded Directors that when answering correspondence, everyone must ensure that they continue to answer questions to the highest standard, providing clear responses to cascade to teams in a timely way.
Corporate Update
JD presented the SMT with the organisations HR Management Information document. Details were presented for sick absences, leave, and vacancy trends in Directorates, with discussion on the work being put into the workforce panning exercise.
MQ highlighted the importance of staff wellbeing especially as we transition to hybrid working and encouraging staff to return to the office 2 days a week.
AOB
No other business was tabled.