Seòmar agus comataidhean

That concludes our discussion of those themes. It has been great to hear people’s perspectives and to delve more deeply into the work of community planning partnerships.

I suspend the meeting to allow for a change of witnesses.

We will move on to our sixth theme, which is the culture of public bodies. Miles Briggs is leading on that.

That was a very interesting response.

We will move to questions on community empowerment, led by Mark Griffin, who joins us online.

I will continue on the theme of national and local leadership. We have another five minutes. I hope that you can work with me on that, although it is a big topic.

I am interested to hear whether there is, at the national level, sufficient leadership on and support for community planning. What more can be done at the local level to ensure that leadership meets the requirements of the 2015 act? What is the role of local councillors, for example?

Mark, do you have another question?

We will now move on to the theme of the role of the third sector, on which Paul McLennan has questions.

I had two questions but will ask just one because of time. I will direct it to Michelle Crombie.

Last week, the Accounts Commission stated that a number of partnerships have not published locality plans despite being required to do so by the 2015 act. How have locality plans worked in your area and how has your CPP targeted interventions at the areas that need most assistance? You have touched on that, but will you elaborate?

That is very helpful.

Our third theme is the role of the third sector in community bodies. I call Paul McLennan.

Great. Does somebody from South Ayrshire want to come in on that question?

Thank you for your opening statement, minister.

Can you provide any indication of the scale of non-domestic rates income that is currently being lost as a result of the avoidance measures that are covered by the regulations? Can you indicate the number of cases that are expected to be dealt with under the regulations?