SHR Board Minutes - 31 March 2026 - High Street, Glasgow

Present

Welcome, apologies and declarations

GC welcomed all to the meeting.  SHR Board members Marieke Dwarshuis (MD) and Dr Abhishek Agarwal (AA) submitted apologies.    

CS declared that as TIS is currently appointed by Blochairn to advise tenants and he is also a Board member with TIS, he will not participate in any related Board discussions or decisions. 

LP declared that she has being appointed to become a Court Service Equality Assessor and the Board noted she would not advise on any cases relating to social landlords. 

HTT reported that she has been appointed to a voluntary committee position with Social Investment Scotland. 

The Board noted the declarations.     

Consent Agenda

The Board noted and approved the consent agenda including:

• the Chair and Member activity report;
• 24 February 2026 Board minutes – and a private note of the afternoon workshop;
• ARAC update from March 2026; and
• the matters arising report.

The Board reflected on the workshop with Link Group and agreed it was useful and it would welcome engaging with more landlords. 

GC explained that EF will hand over the Chair of ARAC role to DJ from 1 April 2026.   The Board thanked EF for all his work as ARAC Chair and welcomed DJ to the role.  

Chief Executive’s report

MC presented on issues and developments that impact regulated bodies, the wider housing environment and SHR.  He highlighted the Cabinet Secretary for Housing’s correspondence with the Scottish Parliament.   MC and IM reported on Audit Scotland’s code of practice consultation and the Board welcomed proposals for proportionate audits. 

MC also highlighted SHR’s plans to do fewer annual assurance statement visits in 2026/27.  He confirmed the landlords selected vary in size and location. 

The Board considered the CEO report and discussed:

• resourcing public body duties such as the SHR’s Children’s Rights Plan, noting that SHR is obliged to carry out and/or report on a range of statutory duties as a public body and that it will consider the approach it takes to all of these as part of the operating model review.  MC also reported on work that the Scottish Delivery Bodies Group is doing to explore streamlining statutory reporting;
• the relationship between policy areas within the Scottish Government and the public service reform agenda, noting for example that new complex guidance around climate change will be challenging for SHR to easily engage with;
• legal advice, noting that SHR does not share legal advice with landlords and that membership bodies often commission advice as well as landlords obtaining their own.  The Board also noted that SHR would adhere to the advice it has been given rather than rely on that from others, including when that might differ, until case law is established; and
• Audit Scotland’s code of practice consultation, noting plans for defining smaller organisations with budgets less than £6.5m.  

The Board thanked MC and noted the report. 

Draft Budget

CN presented the draft budget for 2026/27.  She highlighted work to develop the budget with Management Team.  CN explained that SHR had received £5.382m revenue funding, a small non-cash element to cover depreciation and that it is continuing to seek capital funding from Scottish Government.  CN reported that without vacancies, there is a funding shortfall of £0.5m.  She explained that SHR will not recruit to fill existing vacancies and that it has sought to minimise expenditure in other budget lines, but a shortfall of £0.18m is forecast and there are new recharge costs expected from the Scottish Government.  CN explained that the main mechanism SHR has to seek to balance its budget is through further vacancy management and a 9.4% rate is proposed, which is significantly higher than any previously used.  CN walked the Board through some of the budget headings and assumptions. 

HS updated the Board on some staff changes within the Regulation Group since the paper was written. 

The Board considered the proposals and discussed:

• capital funding, noting that the costs for IT replacements and website work has currently been allowed for in the revenue budget and that discussions are ongoing with Scottish Government around capital funding;
• the percentage of SHR’s budget made up of staff costs, asking CN to clarify this; and
• SHR’s operating plan, noting this reflects budget constraints and has been set to reflect anticipated resources for 2026/27. 

IM highlighted that the budget proposals also includes provision to commit funding to the National Panel of Tenants and Service Users, which would be at a level that is a retained decision for SHR Board over the entire period of a future contract.  He explained the value of the approach and the rich insight the Panel provides.  The Board noted that the current contract ends in March 2026 and IM is proposing it is commissioned with annual exit opportunities should SHR require this.  

The Board noted the budget assumptions and approved the revenue budget for 2026/27.  It also approved funding for the renewal of the contract for the National Panel of Tenants and Service Users.  

Action: CN to clarify the percentage of SHR’s budget that is made up of staff costs and implement the 2026/27 budget.  IM to commission a contract to manage SHR’s National Panel of Tenants and Service Users.  

Operating Plan 2026/27

MC presented a draft operating plan for 2025/26 to the Board.  He explained that this was set to fit with SHR’s resources and to also allow it to be responsive to things like emerging casework or post election outcomes.   MC confirmed that savings estimated around £0.5 million have been achieved in the plan.  

The Board considered the proposals and discussed:

• the work that SHR will not do during 2026/27 and the impact of this;
• if there is flexibility to postpone further work should a resource need emerge, noting that the operating model review work has flexibility around how it is done and associated timescales and that extended timescales could be applied to other work areas.  MC explained that SHR can also raise risk tolerance in the risk assessment to increase responsive resource capacity;
• treasury management review, noting value in helping SHR gain a deeper understanding of complex funding arrangements.  It noted that most Systemically Important landlords use external financial advisors and SHR can identify this through reviewing minutes, but treasury management gives additional understanding;
• any thresholds in SHR’s regulatory risk assessment process, noting that the assessment involves a more complex mixture of indicators overlaid with intelligence and regulatory judgement and the outcome is set to match available resources.  The Board also noted that every engagement plan clearly articulates the type of engagement SHR will have and the areas of risk that SHR is seeking assurance on;
• how SHR is utilising AI and if there are potential future uses; and
• plans to review the statutory manager mini competitions after SHR has refreshed the statutory manager list towards the end of 2026/27, noting it is a resource-intensive process.  It agreed it will be important to be able to explain SHR’s work plans to stakeholders including the Scottish Parliament in the context of the budget.  The Board also noted that there are no current statutory interventions and MC explained that the representative bodies hold lists for landlords to source support from.

The Board approved the operating plan for implementation from 1 April 2026 and noted that SHR will publish a summary.

Annual Report Narrative 2025/26

RH presented a first draft of SHR’s annual report narrative for 2025/26. She highlighted the preparation work ahead of audit.  The Board noted the draft report and that RH will take feedback from members after the meeting and work up a final draft for approval, which will be circulated on 14 April 2026.  The Board noted that the report must be shared with audit by 20 April 2026. 

Actions: RH to take Board’s feedback into account and circulate a final report for approval by 14 April 2026 for sharing with SHR’s Auditors by 20 April 2026.  

Post meeting note: SHR Board approved the annual report for audit and it was submitted to External Auditors with the draft annual accounts.  

Communications Strategy

TD presented a refreshed communications strategy to the Board.  She explained that this reflected the feedback from the Board workshop in January 2026 and research feedback that found the current approach is working well.   TD also explained the strategy objectives, summarising these as clear, modern and accessible communications, with a proportionate appropriate to reflect the work SHR does.  The Board considered the strategy and discussed:

• visibility of SHR to tenants and use of social media, noting the commitment to keep the use of social media under review.  It noted that communications will feature in the operating model review.  The Board agreed that SHR’s primary audience is landlords, but that it wished to discuss visibility with tenants at a strategic level as part of the operating model review work; and
• differences in how SHR aims to communicate with tenants and with tenant representative, asking TD to set out in the Strategy when SHR  is using others to cascade information to tenants.

The Board approved the Communications Strategy for 2026-2029 and noted related work that will be part of the operating model review. 

Action: TD to take account of the Board’s feedback, finalise and implement the Communications Strategy 2026-2029.

How we include tenants and others in our work

HS and KM presented a refreshed strategy on how SHR includes tenants and service users in its work.  KM highlighted the feedback from the Board in January 2026  and that the strategy will be reviewed as part of the forthcoming operating model review.  KM highlighted plans for flexibility around the volume of meetings SHR is committed to, the newly recruited cohort of Tenant Advisors and asked the Board to consider SHR’s participation in conferences.  The Board considered the strategy and discussed:

• frequency of meetings with Tenants Together (Scotland) SHR Liaison Group, noting resourcing implications, but agreeing these remain a priority and SHR will aim to  continue to meet the group quarterly, while recognising some flexibility may be needed and this will be further examined as part of the operating model review, with any decision to amend being made by SHR Board;
• clarity in the annual report on how SHR took account of feedback;
• conference participation, agreeing Boad members could help resourcing; and
• accessibility, noting plans for to produce a summary.

The Board thanked KM and welcomed the input from the Liaison Group. It approved the one-year strategy.

Action: KM to implement the one-year strategy on How SHR includes tenants and other service users in its work. 

Health and Safety Policy Statement

IM presented a refreshed Health and Safety Policy Statement to the Board.   He highlighted that approval is retained by SHR Board and the statement has been prepared in consultation with SHR’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee.   IM explained that it is an internal document that is made available to all staff via SHR’s intranet, the Residence.   He also confirmed the Statement is supported by a range of Health and Safety policies and procedures.  

The Board noted arrangements and approved the statement.  It delegated signing to the Chief Executive.  

Action: MC to sign the Health and Safety Policy Statement and IM to publish it on SHR’s intranet for staff to access.   

Fraud, Whistleblowing and Bribery policies

IM presented refreshed policies covering Anti-Fraud, Anti-Bribery and Whistleblowing.  He explained that while these have been in place since 2012, SHR has never had to put them into use.  IM reported that ARAC has considered all the updates and explained the Whistleblowing Policy now reflects Scottish Government’s 2025 guidance.  The Board considered the policy updates and discussed:

• support available to staff whistleblowers, noting SHR staff have access to Scottish Government human resources and can access support via employee assistance; and
• child protection record keeping in RSLs, noting SHR will ask the Care Inspectorate if has or intends to provide any guidance.  The Board also noted SHR’s work in relation to UNCRC and Corporate Parenting.

The Board approved the policies.   

Actions:

• IM to implement the Anti-Fraud, Anti-Bribery and Whistleblowing policies
• HS to check if the Care Inspectorate has or plans to issue any guidance for RSLs relating to child protection records.

Equalities Statement

JJ presented a review of SHR’s Equality Statement.  He highlighted the addition of information on UNCRC and Corporate Parenting as well as more emphasis on SHR’s work with tenants.  The Board considered the statement and discussed:

• protected characteristics and how these are described in the statement, agreeing clarity around language is important;
• the work that SHR does around people disproportionately impacted in relation to protected characteristics, managing expectations, while being mindful of SHR’s limited resources. The Board asked JJ to consider further how this described what SHR has done against objectives;
• review timescales for the Corporate Parenting and Children’s rights elements, asking for clarity;
• what SHR expect of others and how that provides it with assurance;
• guidance that landlords should be using, agreeing, if possible to add in further detail; and
• potential for involving equalities groups that SHR has a relationship with, in future statement reviews.

The Board thanked JJ and approved the statement subject to final language and clarity amendments.

Action: JJ to take account of the Board’s feedback and finalise the Equalities Statement 2026-2029 for publication and implementation.  

Serious Casework

HS presented on serious regulatory casework.  She updated the Board on engagement with Blochairn Housing Association and related work with Scottish Government.

Following the update on Blochairn, GC welcomed CS back into the meeting.

HS highlighted the changes since the last serious casework report.  She reported that Blackwood has moved to compliant and updated the Board on progress with serious concerns cases around Gypsy Traveller sites in Fife and Perth and Kinross.   HS explained changes following the outcome of the risk assessment and the Board noted these will be reflected in the next report.   The Board considered the report and discussed landlords becoming compliant, agreeing that was positive and reflected constructive engagement with SHR.  It agreed it is important to acknowledge and highlight this to the sector and noted SHR will look for opportunities in speeches and publications. 

The Board also discussed Edinburgh City Council’s target date for compliance with statutory duties and Glasgow City’s temporary accommodation strategy.  It noted:

• Scottish Government and SHR continue to engage with both local authorities;
• the strategic context for both authorities is different; and
• that there are complexities around initiatives such as suspending allocations, flipping temporary tenancies or utilising mid-market rentals for temporary accommodation with some issues around scaling these up.

The Board noted the serious casework update.  

Regulatory Risk Assessment Update

HS and JJ presented on the outcome of the regulatory risk assessment.  They reported that the outcome report and engagement plans would be published later that week.  JJ set out the strategic context, financial challenges, the focus of the risk assessment, engagement outcomes, changes in engagement, resource constraints and strategic risk outcomes.  The Board considered the update and discussed:

• potential for using technology to review data such as landlord minutes in future risk assessments, noting some trial work that is ongoing using AI and other considerations to scale back on resource intensive reviews;
• the importance of data management by landlords.  It noted in particular the variety of systems in place for record keeping around stock condition and safety checks and that there can be challenges when landlords get into difficulties;
• highlighting service quality performance issues to landlords in engagement plans while seeking to reduce active engagement;
• data gathered on stock through the Annual Charter Returns, noting SHR will get the first set of data on the new indicators by May 2026.  The Board noted SHR will consider these in the context of Awaab’s law and that Scottish Government has laid regulations to be met by October, but that guidance discussions are ongoing;
• two voluntary deregistrations and the importance of highlighting changes in the sector in the National Charter report; and
• what aspects of regulatory engagement most impacts compliance.

The Board noted the update and publications plans.

SHR Board secession planning

GC explained that three Board members will come to the end of their second terms with SHR Board at the end of March 2027.   He reported that he will seek to have discussions with Board members to inform further discussions with Scottish Ministers on future skills and experience.  GC also highlighted the need to also give consideration to what appointments mean for SHR’s future budget positions.  The Board noted that GC and RH have commenced preparation work. 

GC also reported that he has asked Board members to express interest in becoming Deputy Chair in anticipation of EF completing his term in March 2027.

AOB

The Board discussed potential visits to landlords and noted that RH is working on this and will share proposals in the coming weeks. 

Agenda planner

The Board noted the agenda planner.

Effectiveness of meetings and papers

The Board considered the effectiveness of the meeting and papers.  It noted that due to timing there were a lot cyclical strategics and policies to read in the March pack, but welcomed the quality of the associated papers. 

DONMS

The Board will meet on 26 May 2026 online.   The Board noted that the meeting date for August 2026 will be amended.  

Private Session

The Board held a private meeting with the Chief Executive. 

Briefings

Between the 31 March 2026 and 26 May 2026:

• SHR publications
• Media updates
• Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee work
• Scottish Elections
• Glasgow University publication on the legal rights of Scottish Gypsy Travellers