Minutes: 26 March 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. Community Wealth Building:

The Committee took evidence from—

Neil McInroy, Chair, Economic Development Association Scotland;

Stacey Dingwall, Head of Policy and External Affairs, Federation of Small Businesses Scotland;

Matthew Brown, Council Leader, Preston City Council;

Angus Hardie, Director, Scottish Community Alliance;

Rob Davidson, Strategy Manager, Community Wealth Building, South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE);

Louise Kirk, Representative, Ayrshire Community Wealth Building Commission;

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland;

Linda Somerville, Deputy General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress. 

Stephanie Callaghan MSP declared an interest as having served as a Councillor on South Lanarkshire Council.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Non-Domestic Rates (Islands and Remote Areas Hospitality Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/55)

Non-Domestic Rates (Transitional Relief) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/59)

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

4. Community Wealth Building:

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard to a future meeting. 

5. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed—

• it's approach to scrutiny of expected secondary legislation on short-term lets;
• to invite the Convener of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee to provide evidence to that committee’s report;
• correspondence to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on the National Performance Framework; and
• to hold an evidence session on rural housing as part of its wider work on Housing to 2040.