Minutes of the Strategic Board: 2 September 2025

Present

• Alison Saunders, Non-executive Director (Chair) 
• John Logue, Crown Agent and Chief Executive
• Lindsey Miller, Deputy Crown Agent, Operational Support
• Jim Brisbane, Director of Strategy
• David Watt, Non-executive Director
• John Burns, Non-executive Director (MS Teams)
• Annie Gunner Logan, Non-executive Director
• Helena Kiely, Non-executive Director (MS Teams)

In attendance:

• Christopher Hastings, Corporate Governance Manager (Secretariat)
• Frances Ross, Head of Corporate Governance
• Keith Dargie, Director of Human Resources (MS Teams)

Apologies:

None

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. No apologies were received. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2025 were approved and can be published. One outstanding action was noted for discussion under Agenda item 4.

The Crown Agent and Chief Executive (CACE) introduced paper SB0925(3.1). 

The CACE gave an update on the Review of Sexual Offences which will soon be published alongside the COPFS response and next steps. The Crown Agent provided assurance on the implementation of Review recommendations, advising that many of the recommendations are already underway or can be added to relevant transformation programmes already in progress.

The Board discussed the end of pandemic extended time limits for solemn cases. The Board asked for reassurance around COPFS meeting the challenging deadlines and the CACE expressed confidence in COPFS doing so. The Board asked that this be added to the next meeting’s agenda with the relevant Legal Director in attendance. 

The Crown Agent and Chief Executive updated the board on changes in senior staffing: 

• Yvette Greener will shortly join COPFS as the Chief Operating Officer
• Lindsey Miller will be Legal Director – Local Court and Deputy Crown Agent
• Katrina Parkes will be Legal Director - High Court Casework.
• Laura Buchan will be Legal Director – Death Investigations
• Stephen McGowan will continue in his role as Legal Director - Litigation. 

The CACE provided reassurance to the Board on the number of senior leaders in temporary roles, advising that there are ongoing exercises to rectify this and advised that this will be improved over the next couple of months. 

The CACE gave an update on the Designed for Success transformation programme, including positive progress with the implementation of new structures. The CACE highlighted new teams now in place and working effectively – the Portfolio Management Office and the Corporate Governance and Business Planning team. The CACE also highlighted positive progress with work to review management structures. The Board discussed how we will implement any proposed new structures and the CACE advised that we will bring further information to the board in due course. The CACE advised that he will shortly begin a fresh series of office visits as part of the Designed for Success programme.  

The Director of Strategy provided an update on the process to create a new Strategic Plan for COPFS, as agreed at the June Strategic Board meeting. The Director of Strategy highlighted the anticipated key themes for the plan and the ongoing early engagement with stakeholders, stressing the importance of COPFS including 'modernising the way we work' in our Strategic Plan, which will include commitments to initiate case management improvement and introduction of standard operating practices. Also advised that the updated strategy is likely to include a commitment to justice-wide reform, which will be delivered in partnership with others in the justice sector. The Director of Strategy advised that work is ongoing with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to align the two organisations’ strategic plans. 

The Board asked for a consistent approach to sub-strategies, highlighting that COPFS's current sub-strategies are varied in terms of content and updating schedules.  

The Board asked for assurance that the Strategic Plan will explicitly highlight the need for COPFS to harness technology and AI to improve our service. The Director of Strategy provided assurance that we are working with justice sector to create a shared technology vision for the whole sector and that he anticipates the COPFS strategic plan will include a 'digitally- driven' cross-cutting theme. The Board agreed to revisit the topic of AI at a future meeting. The Director of Strategy advised that the draft strategic plan will be circulated to Board members for input in the coming months. 

The CACE praised the hard work of COPFS staff over the summer in response to a variety of events. 

The Head of Corporate Governance introduced the Performance Report (SB0925(3.2)). The Board discussed the performance measures and requested more explanation around the measures not on target for the next meeting. 

Action: End of amended pandemic solemn time limits to be added to the agenda for the December Strategic Board meeting (Head of Corporate Governance and Business Planning). 

The Head of Business Services joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams to introduce paper SB0925(4.1). A proposal was presented to develop a new corporate risk register and enhance COPFS’s risk management approach. The board agreed that the risk register is due for improvement. The Board sought assurance that COPFS plans to engage with stakeholders and learn from best practices. 

The Head of Corporate Governance introduced paper SB0925(5.1). The Board held a general discussion noting further improvements. The Board agreed the Terms of Reference subject to minor amendments.  

David Watt introduced paper SB0925(6.1), providing a summary of the Audit and Risk Committee’s work throughout the previous year. The Board agreed that the report was helpful. David noted that the ARC Terms of Reference need to be updated and these will be tabled at the November ARC meeting and presented to the December Strategic Board for information.

David Watt introduced the meeting papers from the Audit and Risk Committee (SB0925 (7.1)). There was general discussion of the papers, and no issues were found

The Chair proposed a joint meeting of the Strategic and Leadership Boards in 2026. The Board also requested a more detailed Crown Agent’s report for the next meeting.

Action: Schedule a joint meeting between the Strategic and Leadership Boards (Head of Corporate Governance and Business Planning).