Board minutes: 17 June 2025
Published 6 October 2026
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Minutes of the 63rd Board Meeting
held via video-conference
17 June 2026 09:00-09:40
| Board members present: | Others present: |
|---|---|
| Hannah Nixon (Chair) | Colin Hill |
| Roy Barker | Jane McGovern (for part) |
| Hugh Kelly | Siobhan O’Donoghue |
| John Russell | Akhlaq Shah |
| Joanne Watts | Tara Usher, MOD |
| Claire Williams |
1. Welcome, apologies, announcements, and declarations of interest
The Chair welcomed Board members and attendees to the meeting.
There were no apologies for absence.
Declarations of Interest
The Board noted that Hugh Kelly had been appointed as a member of the Competition Service’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and as a member of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Consumer Panel, both with effect from 1 April 2026. The appointments would be reflected in the Register of Interests.
2. Minutes of previous meetings (SSRO 01-0626) and action tracker (SSRO 02-0626)
The Board received the draft minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2026. The Board also noted the action tracker and confirmed that there were no overdue actions.
The Board APPROVED the minutes of the meetings held on 31 March 2026 as a correct record, and noted the action tracker.
3. Chief Executive’s Report (SSRO 03-0626)
The Chief Executive introduced his report summarising recent activity, current priorities and key issues not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
The Board noted recent developments in the external environment, including the Review of Legislation, anticipated changes to the regime, and the timetable and next steps around publication of the SSRO’s Section 39 recommendations. It was noted that the Arm’s Length Body review of the SSRO, carried out by UKGI, had concluded that the SSRO remained required in its current form and with current sponsorship arrangements.
The final UKGI report was with Ministers for consideration.
The Board also considered the Chief Executive’s objectives for 2026-27, an update on year-end performance assessments and associated performance-related pay. There would be a broader discussion of people issues as part of the Board’s consideration of the refreshed Workforce Strategy at the September meeting.
The Board also noted the update on the roll-out of Microsoft CoPilot, and that the SSRO’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy would be discussed at the September Board meeting.
The Board NOTED its approval (under Standing Order 5) of the publication of updated guidance and consultation documents; and the other information in the Chief Executive’s Report.
4 Corporate Performance Report (SSRO 04-0326)
The Board considered the Corporate Performance Report, covering performance to the end of May 2026, and the 2025-26 year-end position for key performance indicators. The Board discussed highlights, including the updated risk position following the 2 June 2026 Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) meeting, and non-referral advice service (NRAS) statistics.
The Corporate Performance Report would be revised, following finalisation 2026-27 Corporate Plan, to reflect the refreshed objectives and key results, and operational plans.
The Board NOTED the Corporate Performance Report.
5. Audit and Risk Assurance Committee update (Oral)
The Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee provided an oral update from the meeting held on 2 June 2026.
The Board NOTED the update from the 2 June Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting.
6. Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 (SSRO 05-0626)
The Head of Corporate Services presented the final draft 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for the Board’s approval. The NAO had audited the draft ARA and had presented its Audit Completion Report to the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee on 2 June 2026.
The draft ARA reflected comments received previously from the Board, MOD colleagues and the NAO team. Although further amendments were possible up to the date of certification, these were unlikely to be material. The expectation was to present the ARA to the Comptroller & Auditor General for certification and subsequent laying by 9 July 2026. The Board thanked the teams involved in the production of the 2025-26 ARA.
The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee had produced an annual report of its activities during 2025-26, which concluded that the assurances it had received during the year on governance, risk management and control, financial reporting, audit quality - and its own effectiveness - were sufficient to support the Board’s and the Accounting Officer’s accountability obligations.
The Board:
- CONFIRMED that a going concern basis remained appropriate for the financial statements;
- NOTED the error identified and the assurance work undertaken to confirm that this was a one-off;
- NOTED the ARAC’s annual report to the Accounting Officer and the Board;
- APPROVED the 2025-26 Report and Accounts for signature by the Comptroller & Auditor General; and
- DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Chief Executive to approve any final non-material changes.
7. Future workplan (SSRO 06-0626) and reflections on meeting
The Board noted the summary of future Board meeting business and reflected on the business considered at the meeting.
8. Any other business
There was no further business.
The next meeting of the Board would take place on 29 September 2026.