Seòmar agus comataidhean

Minister, do you believe that 20-minute neighbourhoods are practical and that they will be able to be fully implemented in all settings across Scotland, with no community being left behind in that regard?

Good morning, minister. I will touch on the topic of 20-minute neighbourhoods, which has been discussed in the committee’s evidence sessions and in gathering evidence from various focus groups. The committee has heard that the draft NPF4 pays insufficient attention to existing places and buildings, the adaptation of which will be essential to meeting climate change targets and policy goals such as community building and the 20-minute neighbourhood. How might that be tackled in the final version of NPF4?

Professor Ainscow mentioned that tools are needed to measure progress in education and in closing the attainment gap. Kaukab Stewart talked about best practice and sharing information between local authorities. What other benchmarks could be used to measure progress at school level, local authority level or national level?

Emma Congreve wants to come in, too, convener.

I have one more brief supplementary. Local government benchmarking makes comparison quite hard, particularly in relation to its family sets and especially with regard to education and looking at the attainment gap. Local authorities not only implement national policy but introduce locally led initiatives and policies to benefit their own areas, so how can best practice be shared, particularly at a time when local government budgets are quite stretched? Obviously I am concerned about resources and funds for implementing best practice and good policies to close the attainment gap.

Perhaps I can ask Becky Francis that question. [Interruption.]

Good morning. I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests: I am still a serving councillor on North Lanarkshire Council.

I want to ask about 20-minute neighbourhoods, as they are a significant feature that runs through all sections of NPF4. How can they be delivered in practice, particularly in rural areas? A couple of you have indicated that that might be problematic.

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests: I am a serving councillor on North Lanarkshire Council.

Good morning, panel. We have talked about the wording of the national planning policy on 20-minute neighbourhoods; I want to discuss the implementation of such neighbourhoods in practice. A couple of panel members talked about the need to meet community needs. Will the policies in the draft NPF4 direct appropriate development in our cities, towns and local centres, or will we continue to see approvals of out-of-town developments? That is for Tony Aitken, in the first instance.

Thank you—

Thank you, Tony. Thank you, convener. I will hand back to you as I am conscious of time.

I want to pick up on the point about overdefining. Could that mean that terms are open to different interpretations by councils? Could we have 32 councils doing 32 different things in relation to bringing in 20-minute neighbourhoods?