Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you very much.

We agreed at the start of the meeting to take the next three items in private so, as we have no more public business, I close the public part of the meeting.

You do not need to touch your microphone. We have a wonderful person here to operate all that for us.

Under agenda item 2, the committee will take evidence on the local governance review. We will hear from two panels of witnesses. First, we are joined online by Councillor Shaun Macaulay, deputy leader, North Ayrshire Council; Councillor Alex Nicoll, co-leader, Aberdeen City Council; and Councillor James Stockan, leader, Orkney Islands Council. We are joined in the room by Councillor Euan Jardine, leader, Scottish Borders Council; and Councillor David Ross, leader, Fife Council. I welcome our witnesses to the meeting.

Committee members will direct their questions to specific witnesses where possible. However, if anyone else wishes to come in, please indicate your desire to do so to the clerks. Those who are participating remotely can do that by typing an R in the chat box in BlueJeans.

I will begin with a question to set the foundation of our conversation, so I will direct it to all of you. Thinking broadly about the current challenges that local government faces, I would be interested in hearing about some of the biggest challenges that your local authority faces and what you would like to see in this week’s budget to help to address them and improve outcomes in your local areas.

I will start with somebody who is in the room and then go to the folks online. Would David Ross like to start? It looked like you were ready to go for it.

Thanks very much for that, Shaun.

I will bring in Alex Nicoll. Alex, you can add new things, but do not feel that you have to. What are the challenges, and what would you like to see in the budget?

Thanks very much for that. Out of curiosity, your local priorities are the climate, poverty and what else?

I will dig a little bit deeper on changes in behaviours. Will you give us an example, or examples, of a change that would build that trust?

Sarah Watters wants to come in on that.

Thanks, Sarah. Cleland, would you like to share your view on that?

Good morning, and welcome to the 32nd meeting in 2022 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. Mark Griffin and Annie Wells are joining us remotely today. I remind all members and witnesses to ensure that their devices are on silent and that all other notifications are turned off during the meeting.

The first item on our agenda is to decide whether to take agenda items 3, 4 and 5 in private. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Do you want to direct your question to someone? Pick on someone first.