Seòmar agus comataidhean

We are a bit short of time because previous business went over time. Colleagues, I ask you to roll your questions into one, where that makes sense and is possible. Guests, we want to hear from you, but if something has already been said—

You get the point. It has been a challenging morning.

Thanks for that. Story telling makes things so much more accessible.

I want to go back to Alison McGrory on asset-based versus deficit-based community development. You said that the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act provides guidelines on the approach. Is there not flexibility in that? My understanding is that guidelines are just that and do not say, “You must do it this way”. Do you feel that in the guidelines there is not flexibility to move to an asset-based approach? You made a really good point about building on what is already working. Is there scope there, or does something in the legislation need to be reviewed?

The next item on our agenda is an evidence session on community planning. We will hear about the experiences of health and education community planning partners. This is the fifth session in our post-legislative scrutiny of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Our inquiry is looking at the impact of the legislation on community planning, and at how community planning partnerships respond to significant events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

I extend many thanks to our witnesses for joining us. We are joined by Craig McArthur, who is the director of health and social care in the East Ayrshire health and social care partnership; Alison McGrory, who is the associate director of public health in the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership; and Alison MacLeod, who is the strategy and transformation lead in the Aberdeen City health and social care partnership. As Alison MacLeod is joining us online, I ask her to let the clerks know when she would like to reply to a question by typing R in the chat function. Craig McArthur and Alison McGrory can just indicate that to me or the clerks. There is no need to operate your microphones, as that will be done for you.

Annie Wells will begin our discussion with questions about the challenges that communities are facing.

Thanks very much for that. It sounds as though clarity is really important.

How is it going in Argyll and Bute, with the LOIPs and locality plans?

Good morning, and welcome to the 10th meeting in 2023 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. I remind all members and witnesses to ensure that their devices are on silent and all other notifications are turned off during the meeting.

The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 2 is evidence on a Scottish statutory instrument from Tom Arthur, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth. Mr Arthur is joined by Tom Winter, head of development delivery at the Scottish Government. I invite the minister to make an opening statement.

We now move to our final theme, which is local and national leadership.

As members have no other comments on the instrument, does the committee agree that we do not wish to make any recommendations in relation to the instrument? Obviously, we are seeking the reassurances that we have discussed.

Members indicated agreement.

Thanks very much. That was helpful.

I call Marie McNair, who has questions on the theme of measuring impact.

I call Miles Briggs to ask about the culture of public bodies.