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Session 6 Priorities Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government - 23 June 2021

Letter from Convener, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee to Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government - Wednesday 23 June 2021

Dear Shona,


I am writing following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee to welcome you to your role as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government and to request details of the Scottish Government’s priorities for matters falling within the Committee’s remit.

At its first meeting, the Committee agreed to write to you seeking detail of your views on and proposals for:

• Local governance review and Local Democracy Bill
• Funding formula for local government
• Recovery from COVID19
• Housing, including immediate priorities for implementation of Housing to 2040 and:
  
  • Regulation of short-term lets
  • Affordable housing, including supply
  • Implementation of a new system for tracking private rents and the use of data arising from this system
  • Operation of and access to the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property) Chamber
  • Review of the Property Factors Code of Conduct
• Building regulation and fire safety
• Planning, including:
  
  • Details of the timing for publication of the National Planning Framework 4
  • Implementation of policies and proposals in the recent Climate Change Plan update such as 20 minute neighbourhoods
  • Support for communities to produce Local Place Plans
  • Delivering the Infrastructure First approach to planning, including plans for the Infrastructure Levy
  • Investment in local authority planning services, including a review of planning fees

• Community empowerment
• Climate Change
• Licensing of Static Mobile Home Sites with Permanent Residents

The Committee has also agreed to invite you to give evidence on 31 August 2021.

I look forward to hearing from you and request a response by 30 July 2021.

Yours sincerely

Ariane Burgess MSP
Convener, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee