Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you.

Good morning. You might have heard from my questions to the previous witnesses that I am quite interested in the relationship between retrofitting and protecting the distinctive characters of individual places. How do we protect the character of a community while we retrofit properties, and how do we involve those communities in the planning for retrofitting?

Before I ask my question, I refer everyone to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am a serving councillor on North Lanarkshire Council.

My question is about the relationship between retrofitting and protecting the distinctive characteristics of individual places. How do we protect the character of a community?

My second question is similar to one that Willie Coffey asked earlier. How do we involve communities to ensure that their views are represented in that regard and that there is an element of protection for them? I would like Aaron Hill to answer those questions first.

The question is about the relationship between retrofitting and protecting the distinctive characters of individual places. How can we protect the character of our communities? How can we get members of the public and those communities involved so that their views are heard and the communities that they love are protected?

I have no comments to add, convener.

I will leave the Morgan review and the requirements for strengthening ASN provision and move on to Covid guidance for pupils with ASN. I recently read an article by the EIS ASN network, which suggested that Covid guidance is “totally inadequate” for pupils with ASN. One concern that was raised is that, due to the wearing of face masks, ASN children cannot see their teacher’s face, which impacts on their ability to communicate in the way that they usually would. What is the commissioner’s view on the wearing of face masks in schools, particularly across the ASN estate? Does he believe that it has an impact on the ability of ASN children to communicate effectively with their teachers and peers?

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am a serving councillor in North Lanarkshire. Thank you for having me here today.

I want to touch on the pandemic recovery and local authorities’ approach to ASN. My first question relates to a time before the pandemic. In 2019, councils—one of which was North Lanarkshire Council, on which I am a serving councillor—undertook a review of ASN provision. The ASN estate had been inherited from the former regional councils—as were many types of estate throughout Scotland—and many policies and practices were out of date. One of the main concerns that came out of that review was about a requirement to update the policies and practices. Can local authorities learn from the experiences of the pandemic and use it as an opportunity to update ASN provision to ensure that it meets the needs of ASN children and young people and to make sure that the provision is strengthened?

Linda or Stephen, do you have anything to add?

What plans are in place for consultation on the proposed primary legislation that, if passed, will introduce similar changes to the appeals process for the period prior to April 2021?