Minutes: 21 February 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2023 from—

Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Craig McGuffie, Lawyer and David Manderson, Short Term Lets Policy Manager, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Shona Robison (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government) moved—

S6M-07566 —That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2023 be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on—

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Dates and Rent Cap Modification) Regulations 2023; and

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act (Early Expiry and Suspension of Provisions) Regulations 2023 from—

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Propertymark;

David Melhuish, Director, Scottish Property Federation;

Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive, Scottish Land and Estates;

and then from—

Sherina Peek, Acting Policy Manager, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO);

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

Carolyn Lochhead, Director of External Affairs, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA);

Mike Callaghan, Policy Manager, COSLA;

and then from—

Gordon MacRae, Assistant Director, Shelter Scotland;

Emma Saunders, National Organiser and Fenella Gabrysh, Member, Living Rent;

Colin Stewart, Chair, North of Scotland Regional Network of Tenants and Residents.

Mark Griffin declared an interest as an owner of a private rental property in North Lanarkshire.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument— First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber (Amendment) Regulations 2023

6. Public petitions:

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government for further information on actions which it is taking regarding the landlords’ registration scheme, relevant to petition PE1778.

7. Subordinate legislation (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting under items 2 and 4.

8. Understanding Barriers to Local Elected Office (in private):

The Committee agreed to postpone consideration of the correspondence to a future meeting.