Minutes: 25 June 2024

1. Declaration of interests:

Emma Roddick MSP declared that she had previously served as a councillor on Highland Council until May 2022.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

3. Housing (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

James Calder, National Policy and Engagement Officer, MECOPP;

Lucy Hughes, Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Engender;

Kate Thompson, Policy Officer, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland;

Gerry Tierney, Housing Advice Team Leader, Ayr Housing Aid Centre;

Jon Turner, Chief Executive, Link Group;

and then from—

Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs, Blue Cross;

Gilly Mendes-Ferreira, Director of Innovation and Strategic Relations, Scottish SPCA;

James Hickman, Head of Outreach Projects, Dogs Trust.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 from—

Paul McLennan, Minister for Housing, Craig McGuffie, Lawyer, Andy Kinnaird, Head of Transforming Planning, and Jessica Niven, Unit Head, More Homes Division, Scottish Government.

5. Subordinate legislation:

Minister for Housing moved—

S6M-13502— That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 be approved.

The Committee agreed the motion (by division: For 4, Against 0, Abstentions 3)

6. Consideration of evidence (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda items 3 and 4 and in so doing agreed the contents of its report on the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024.

7. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed:

• To undertake further scrutiny of Housing to 2040 and the housing emergency and to seek written evidence in the first instance to inform its next steps;
• To return to consider the Short-term lets licensing scheme in the context of the Scottish Government’s forthcoming update;
• To seek the views of stakeholders on progress made in relation to the cladding remediation programme;
• The contents of a letter to the Minister for Public Finance on the Committee’s NPF4 review.