LGC/S5/21/6/M

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

MINUTES

6th Meeting, 2021 (Session 5)

Wednesday 10 February 2021

Present:

James Dornan (Convener) Sarah Boyack (Deputy Convener) Keith Brown (Committee Substitute) Gordon MacDonald Alexander Stewart Andy Wightman

Apologies were received from Annie Wells.

The meeting opened at 9.00 am.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take item 9 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee took evidence on the Property Factors (Code of Conduct) (Scotland) Order 2021 [draft] from—

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, and Stephen Leetion, Senior Policy Officer, Property Factoring, .

3. Subordinate legislation: Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning moved—S5M-23919—That the Local Government and Communities Committee recommends that the Property Factors (Code of Conduct) (Scotland) Order 2021 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee took evidence on the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) (Modification and Revocation) (Coronavirus) Order 2021 (SSI 2021/10) from—

LGC/S5/21/6/M

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, and Marion Gibbs, Team Leader, Homelessness and Housing-Related Social Security Unit, Scottish Government.

Sarah Boyack declared that she was previously employed as Head of Public Affairs for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.

5. Subordinate legislation: Andy Wightman moved—S5M-23878—That the Local Government and Communities Committee recommends that the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation)(Scotland) (Modification and Revocation) (Coronavirus) Order 2021 (SSI 2021/10) be annulled.

After debate, the motion was not agreed to (by division: For 1, Against 6, Abstentions 0).

6. Budget and local government settlement 2021-22: The Committee took evidence from—

Martin Booth, Executive Director of Finance, City of Council, representing the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers ( SOLACE);

Councillor Gail Macgregor, Resources Spokesperson, COSLA;

Eileen Rowand, Executive Director, Fife Council, representing Directors of Finance;

Sarah Watters, Chief Officer, Finance, COSLA.

Gordon MacDonald indicated that his wife is a Councillor on the City of Council.

7. Statutory guidance laid for consultation: The Committee considered the following—

Proposed Statutory Guidance- Sports Club Relief (SG 2021/9)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

8. Subordinate legislation: The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2021 (SSI 2021/29)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument. LGC/S5/21/6/M

9. Budget and local government settlement 2021-22: The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

The meeting closed at 11.37 pm.

Peter McGrath Clerk to the Local Government and Communities Committee Room T3.40 The Edinburgh Tel: 0131 348 5232 Email: [email protected]