Seòmar agus comataidhean

We are now joined virtually by our second panel of witnesses, to continue our evidence taking on understanding barriers to people seeking local elected office. I welcome Councillor Shona Morrison, who is the president of COSLA. This is the first time that you have joined the committee in your new role, Shona, so I give you a big warm welcome. Councillor Morrison is joined by Alexis Camble, who is policy and participation officer for equalities at COSLA.

Before I open the session to questions from members, I invite Councillor Morrison to make a short opening statement.

It is great that you were able to listen to our previous panel. You will have heard me asking for thoughts about representation of young women in local authorities. Do you have anything more to say about the even greater challenges that young women face to being elected?

There is an issue with managing agendas, which I am busy doing this morning.

Does anyone else want to come in on that?

Cara Davidson mentioned amendments, but what they will be and when they will come seems to be a mystery. What role will the Scottish Parliament have in scrutinising outputs from the discussions that you have been having?

We will now move to questions from Willie Coffey.

Agenda item 2 is an evidence session with Tom Arthur, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, on the planning data parts of the legislative consent memorandum on the United Kingdom’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. Mr Arthur is accompanied today by Scottish Government officials Cara Davidson, head of environment and energy, and Liz Pringle, head of digital planning services. I welcome Mr Arthur to the meeting. Before I open the session to questions from members, I invite him to make a short opening statement.

Good morning and welcome to the 26th meeting in 2022 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. Annie Wells is joining us remotely today, and Mark Griffin will be with us shortly.

I remind members and witnesses to ensure that their mobile devices are in silent mode and that all notifications are turned off during the meeting.

The first item on our agenda today is to decide whether to take in private items 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I have a question for Shona Morrison that is connected to culture and might be a simpler one to answer. You talk about the long hours that councillors must work and the lack of balance in relation to remuneration, but perhaps something could be done to change the need for long working hours. Who has the power to change the working hours for councillors? Where does that power sit?

Talat, your audio is intermittent, so we will pause for a moment. We will move to audio only for you, to ensure that we can hear everything that you say.

Would you like to start again, Talat?