Minutes: 03 October 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4, 5, 6 and 7 in private.

2. Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC):

The Committee took evidence from—

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

Ailsa Macfarlane, Director, Built Environment Forum Scotland;

David Baird, Property Services Manager, West Lothian Council;

Professor Chris Goodier, Senior Leadership Team, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University and Martin Liddell, Chair of Study Group, Institution of Structural Engineers;

Paul Jones, Strategic Asset Improvement Manager, City of Edinburgh Council;

Paul Livesey, Scheme Manager, Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK);

Iain Morris, Acting Director of Asset Management, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service;

Sam Piplica, Senior Specialist, Building, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS);

Peter Watton, Service Director, City of Edinburgh Council, SOLACE;

Stephen Booth, Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord, Aberdeen City Council;

and then from—

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Sam Anson, Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure & Digital and Stephen Garvin, Head of Building Standards, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Local Government Pension Scheme (Remediable Service) (Scotland) Regulations 2023; and
Local Government Investments (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023

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

4. Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

5. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

6. New Deal with Local Government (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to scrutiny of the New Deal with Local Government.

7. Tracker Report 2022/23 (in private):

The Committee agreed its tracker report for the year 2022/23.