Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) – Minutes of Quarterly Board Meeting - 29 October 2024

Attendees:

  • Linda Bamford, MACS Convener (LB)
  • Simon Watkins, MACS Vice-Convener & Rail Lead (SW)
  • Anne MacLeod, MACS Ferries & Aviation Lead (AM)
  • Lesley Macinnes, MACS Bus & Community Transport Co-Lead (LM)
  • Lynn Pilkington, MACS Planning & Strategy Lead (LP)
  • Susan Fulton, MACS Roads, Infrastructure & Active Travel Lead (SF)
  • Catherine Barile, MACS Member (CB)
  • Elliot Cooper, MACS Member (EC)
  • Joanne Devitt, MACS Member (JD)
  • Lynsey Shovlin, MACS Member (LS)
  • Michael Tornow, MACS Member (MT)
  • Naghat Ahmed, MACS Member (NA)
  • Zara Todd, MACS Member (ZT)
  • David Keltie-Armstrong, MACS Head of Secretariat (covering Sponsorship) (DKA)
  • Gordon McIntosh, MACS Secretariat Policy & Support Officer (Minutes) (GM)

Presenting:

  • Katherine McKinnon, Team Leader Climate Behaviours (KM)
  • Frances Maguire, Team Leader - Just Transition Planning and Policy (FM)
  • John White, Transport Climate Change Policy and Engagement Co-ordinator (JW)
  • Naomi Macdonald, Senior Development Officer, Young Islanders Network (NM)

Purpose of Meeting:

The purpose of this Legislative Board Meeting is to provide quarterly updates from each work stream, receive an update from the Sponsorship Team regarding changes within Transport Scotland and hear from external guests to inform our work via two spotlight sessions. These sessions included a presentation from the Just Transition Team with Scottish Government (SG) and Transport Scotland (TS) and a discussion with the Young Islanders Network (YIN).

Agenda Item 1: Welcome, Apologies and Housekeeping – LB

LB opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and confirmed the agenda and covered housekeeping, including the meeting netiquette.

LB confirmed that Nariese Whyte had stepped down from MACS, thanking Nariese for their contributions over the year.

LB confirmed that EC had moved from the Co-Lead of Planning, Strategy, and Engagement Workstream to join Active Travel & Infrastructure and Public & Community Transport teams.

LB congratulated Lynsey Shovlin on winning the “Inspiring Leader Award” at the Renewable UK, Global Offshore Wind Awards for her work with Ocean Winds, who aim to make offshore wind one of the main sources of renewable energy by delivering more efficient and sustainable wind energy solutions. These awards recognising the people that drive the industry forward.

Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes and update on action points from the previous two Board Meetings - LB

SW noted a naming error in the minutes from the previous meeting, which the committee approved.

The committee approved the amendment, agreed the minute and discussed actions that had been completed to close action points from the July 2024 Board Meeting.

Action Point 1: GM to amend the July 2024 Board Meeting minutes and submit them to be published on the MACS website.

Agenda Item 3: Spotlight Session 1: Just Transition in Transport – FM, KM and JW

FM and KM presented an overview of Just Transition, discussing their engagements and the transition's potential impact on transport.

Due to time constraints, some of the MACS questions for the Just Transition Team were unanswered, with an agreement that the team would answer these by correspondence.

JW's then presented on the route-map for the 20% reduction in kilometres travelled by car by 2030. It was noted that MACS had originally been involved in the route-map development and were awaiting sight of the revised route-map to be able to have meaningful input

Action Point 2: Secretariat to gather questions from the chat and anything further sent by email from MACS members and follow up with FM and KM.

Action Point 3: Secretariat to share JW’s 20% reduction in kilometres travelled by car presentation and the updates route-map to the committee and invite comments by correspondence.

Agenda Item 4: Spotlight Session 2: Discussion with the Young Islanders Network – NM

NM provided background on YIN, including current priorities. MACS members discussed a variety a of subjects with NM including YIN’s communications and engagement activities, report findings and recommendations and young islanders responses to free fares for under-22s.

Action Point 4: GM to share the latest YIN Transport Report with the committee.

Agenda Item 5: Sponsorship Updates – DKA

DKA highlighted the National Transport to Healthcare Delivery Plan, was due to be publish by end Oct 2024 and will be shared with MACS.

DKA thanked SF for input on the proposed e-scooter trial submission and provided an update on the next TraveLine app accessibility features anticipated in early 2025.

MT welcomed further accessibility updates on the app, noting recurring usability issues.

LB confirmed that MACS had repeatedly raised the issues of the usability of the app, including its compatibility with screen-reader technology and had been given a commitment from the TraveLine Scotland App development team that user testing had been completed and issues had been resolved. LB noted her disappointment that the app was re-launched in the knowledge that accessibility and usability issues had not been remedied leaving, continuing to leave some disabled people unable to use the app.

NA requested an update on Blue Badges from TS, and DKA agreed to follow up.

Action Point 5: Secretariat to share MACS input on e-scooters with the committee and floating bus stops with MT.

Action Point 6: Secretariat to contact TraveLine Scotland team regarding the continued issues around the usability of the app and compatibility with screen reader technology.

Action Point 7: DKA to meet with LM on Bus Station Legislation changes.

Action Point 8: DKA to ask TS Blue Badge policy lead for the latest update and share this with NA and JD

Action Point 9: LB to share the output of the upcoming meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice with the committee.

Action Point 10: Secretariat to obtain an update to Cycling by Design from TS.

Agenda Item 6: Workstream Leads Update – LB

SW updated the committee on the upcoming railway bills: the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, which is nearing enactment, and the Rail Reform Bill, which is targeted to be introduced before the 2025 summer recess.

Agenda Item 7: Any Other Business – LB

SW noted the Leads meeting cancellation.

DKA requested contact details for the Cross-Party Groups (CPG’s) as part of the MACS Convener recruitment drive.

GM encouraged members to review MACS website changes and provide feedback. Members were also invited to submit topics for the upcoming pre-meeting for the EQIA training session.

Action Point 11: LB to circulate Convener recruitment details to CPG’s.

Action Point 12: Secretariat to distribute MACS 2025 meeting schedule via email.

Agenda Item 8: Meeting Close – LB

In their final board meeting as MACS Convener, LB extended her thanks to the Secretariat, Sponsorship Team, SG/TS Policy Teams, Scottish Government Ministers and MACS members for their support and contributions throughout her tenure of 8 years.

The Convener expressed her gratitude to MACS members, past and present, for their dedication and for bringing both professional expertise and lived experiences, which are foundational to MACS' work.

In closing, the Convener wished everyone well in their next chapter.

Action Points

Action Point 1: GM to amend the July 2024 Board Meeting minutes and publish them on the MACS website.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Website request made to TS digital.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 2: Secretariat to gather questions from the chat and anything further sent by email from MACS members and follow up with FM and KM.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Compiled the questions from MACS during the Just Transition session and sent them to FM and KM, just awaiting their response.
  • Status: Complete
  • Action: The questions and observations have been acknowledged by the relevant departments. While there are no straightforward answers, it has been confirmed that these observations and questions are actively being considered in the drafting of the EQIA for the 20% car use reduction route map.

Action Point 3: Secretariat to share JW’s 20% car use reduction presentation with the committee and invite comments by correspondence.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Distributed JW’s presentation to committee members and will collect the comments.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 4: GM to share the latest YIN Transport Report with the committee.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Share the published YIN Transport Report with MACS committee members.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 5: Secretariat to share MACS input on e-scooters with the committee and floating bus stops with MT.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Sent the MACS input on e-scooters to the committee and asked SF for the MACS lines on floating bus stops.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 6: Secretariat to contact TraveLine Scotland team regarding the continued issues around the usability of the app and compatibility with screen reader technology.

  • Owner: DKA
  • Action: DKA to email the relevant team about the MACS concerns.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 7: DKA to meet with LM to discuss changes to bus station legislation.

  • Owner: DKA
  • Action: DKA had the meeting with LM.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 8: DKA to ask TS’s Blue Badge policy lead for an update and share with NA and JD.

  • Owner: DKA
  • Action: DKA has emailed the team and is awaiting a response.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 9: LB to share outcomes of the upcoming meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice with the committee.

  • Owner: LB
  • Action: LB will share this once a date is set and the meeting occurs.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 10: Secretariat to request an update from TS Active Travel on Cycling by Design progress.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: GM to contact TS for the latest information on Cycling by Design and share with the committee.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 11: LB to circulate Convener recruitment details to CPG’s.

  • Owner: LB
  • Action: LB has contacted the CPGS, sharing the MACS Convener recruitment advert and asking for this to be shared with their memberships. MACS secretariat have gathered these contacts for future use.
  • Status: Complete

Action Point 12: Secretariat to distribute the MACS 2025 meeting schedule to the committee via email.

  • Owner: GM
  • Action: Send out the confirmed 2025 MACS meeting schedule to committee members.
  • Status: Complete