Minutes: 08 October 2024

Tuesday, 08 October 2024

30th Meeting, 2024

Start time: 09:06am

End time: 12:11pm

Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Published: Wednesday, 09 October 2024

Also present:

Dr Kirsten Jenkins and Professor Colin Reid (advisers). Professor Colin Reid was not present for agenda item 8.

Minutes

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6, 7 and 8 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024 from—

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, supported by Micheila West, Solicitor, Scottish Government and;

Matthew Eastwood, Head of EV Infrastructure, Low Carbon Economy Directorate, Transport Scotland.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Fiona Hyslop (Cabinet Secretary for Transport) moved—S6M-14319— That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to. The Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft report for publication.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Local Services Franchises (Traffic Commissioner Notices and Panels) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/229)

Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (Multi-operator Travel Cards) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/243)

Public Service Vehicles (Registration of Local Services) (Bus Services Improvement Partnerships Service Standards Decisions) (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/248)

The Committee agreed that, in relation to SSI 2024/229, they would seek evidence and consider the instrument again at a future meeting. The Committee agreed to make no recommendation in relation to the other instruments.

5. Environmental Standards Scotland Investigation – Climate Change Delivery Improvement Report:

The Committee took evidence from—

Silke Isbrand, Policy Manager, Environment and Economy Team, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA);

George Tarvit, Director, Sustainable Scotland Network;

Mark Roberts, Chief Executive Officer and Jamie McGrandles, Head of Investigations, Standards and Compliance, Environmental Standards Scotland;

Clare Wharmby, SCIS Programme Director, Scottish Climate Intelligence Service;

Gillian Martin, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, supported by Philip Raines, Deputy Director, Domestic Climate Change and Andrew Mortimer, Statistician (Climate Change Statistics and Modelling), Scottish Government.

Douglas Lumsden declared an interest as a former Councillor for Aberdeen City Council.

Jackie Dunbar declared an interest as a former Councillor for Aberdeen City Council.

6. Environmental Standards Scotland Investigation – Climate Change Delivery Improvement Report (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting and agreed to write a report.

7. Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report on legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-47. Two changes were agreed to and the Committee agreed the report for publication.

8. Adviser on environmental standards and regulation (In Private):

The Committee considered the adviser contract and agreed to take up the option of extending the contract until the end of the session.