Minutes: 12 September 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private.

Pam Gosal MSP declared an interest as the owner of 50% of the issued share capital in two property investments and letting companies. One has a property in Scotland and the other one in England. Both properties are let under long-term leases. Pam declared that she did not receive any income from her share ownership in these companies.

Ivan McKee MSP declared an interest as an owner of a private rental property and ownership of a 50% share in a company which lets residential property.

 

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 from—

Fionna Kell, Director of Policy, Homes for Scotland;

David Bookbinder, Director, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations;

Peter Drummond, Chair of Practice Committee, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland;

Duncan Sharp, Director of the Association, Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF);

Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive, Heat Pump Association;

Alan Stark, Chair, Sustainability and Building Design Committee, Scottish Property Federation;

and then from—

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ RightsGareth Fenney, Head of Heat Networks & Investment, Claire Jones, Head of Onshore Electricity Policy, Antonia Georgieva, Heat in Buildings Team Leader (New Build Heat Standard, Enforcement, Traditional Buildings), and Norman Macleod, Senior Principal Legal Officer, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Adam Krawczyk, Head of Housing, Homelessness & Regeneration Analysis, Poppy Prior, Solicitor, and Yvette Sheppard, Head of Housing Services and Rented Sector Reform Unit, Scottish Government.

4. The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Date) (No. 2) Regulations 2023:

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights to move—S6M-09290—That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Date) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 be approved.

 

Motion S6M-0929 was agreed to (by division: For 4, Against 2, Abstentions 0).

5. Subordinate Legislation (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting under items 2 and 3.

6. Building Safety (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to scrutiny of the impact of defective Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) elements in public buildings in Scotland.

7. Climate Change Plan (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to scrutiny of the draft Climate Change Plan.