There were no conflicts of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.


Prior to the start of the meeting, Alan welcomed Kathryn to her first meeting of the Group.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Group held on 2 June 2025.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on key developments within Scotland Excel, since the meeting of the CEOMG held on 2 June 2025, and the key strategic activities and outputs delivered by each team within the corporate structure.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Under reference to item 4 of the Minute of the meeting of this Group held on 2 June 2025, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing further detail on the range of procurement structural models across local government.

The report was structured over four main headings: the local government spend landscape; collaborative procurement bodies; Scotland Excel – future scenarios; and future models and resourcing and contained a wide range of observations, detail and suggested actions which were also split between two foundation themes: sector data and intelligence; and skills and transformation and two growth themes: growing Scotland Excel’s services; and Scotland Excel and sector models.

The Director of Customer & Business Services gave a presentation to members. 

Following consideration of the report and presentation, and following discussion, it was agreed that Scotland Excel prioritise the actions identified in Appendix 1 of the report, based on feedback received from members, and submit an update to the next meeting of this Group for agreement on how to report to SOLACE.

DECIDED: That Scotland Excel prioritise the actions identified in Appendix 1 of the report based on feedback received from members and submit an update to the next meeting of this Group for agreement on how to report to SOLACE.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on issues faced in national collaborative social care contracting and seeking input and direction in relation to a range of key activities which Scotland Excel would be undertaking in the coming months.

The report provided an executive summary and detail and recommendations in relation to the three areas of work: fee setting in National Social Care Contracts; the response to the call for views on The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill; and the next steps on the future of collaborative contracts for social care. Appendices to the report provided further detail on each area of work.

DECIDED: 

(a) That in relation to fee setting in National Social Care Contracts (i) the risk facing the future of effective collaboration in social care procurement and commissioning be noted; (ii) the continued use of the existing national portfolio be supported to minimise the risk of this work becoming no longer viable in recognition of the impact this would have on current practice as well as risk of limiting potential options for local government to collaborate in future; and (iii) Scotland Excel be supported to reinforce the governance position in relation to concerns raised and support the effective working and ongoing collaboration between Scotland Excel and IJBs;

(b) That in relation to the response to the call for views on The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill (i) it was agreed that Scotland Excel’s response on the question on introducing powers to limit profit making in children’s residential care reflected the position of the Group; and (ii) the proposed approach to responding to the call for views as set out in section 2 of Appendix 2 to the report be supported; and

(c) That in relation to the next steps on the future of collaborative contracts for social care, Scotland Excel be supported in accessing the information needed from local teams to progress the project work as outlined, by endorsing the proposed interview process.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to Scotland Excel’s Annual Procurement Report, a copy of which was appended to the report.

The Annual Procurement Report sets out relevant and proportionate information to provide transparency of purchasing activities in the preceding financial year and must be published as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the financial year, The statutory guidance on the publication of the report stated that it must address all matters contained in an organisation’s procurement strategy.

DECIDED: That the content of the report and the upcoming publication of the Annual Procurement Report, as appended, which would subsequently be submitted to the Scottish Government no later than 30 September 2025, be noted.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the CEOMG would be held at 10.00 am on 10 November 2025.