Seòmar agus comataidhean

It is good to hear that overview of what you have been doing. Willie Coffey, who joins us online, will ask the next questions.

That is reassuring.

You talked about how you were able to move quickly to remote working. Will you say a bit about how you supported your staff to work from home, when that became necessary?

It is interesting that remote working has brought staff wellbeing to the forefront and emphasised the importance of that to organisations.

Earlier, you spoke about the work that staff are carrying out. The regulator’s work involves engaging with landlords and tenants but, suddenly, you were moved into a remote world. I would love to understand more about how that work was carried out. Were you able to be effective over the past year?

Meghan Gallacher has questions on charter awareness.

Thank you, George, for bringing that to the front. It is good for the committee to hear that and to recognise all that work and all the engagement that takes place.

Graeme Dey has some questions about social landlords’ maintenance of their homes.

Item 7 is consideration of four negative instruments. There is no requirement for the committee to make any recommendations on negative instruments. Does the committee agree not to make any recommendations in relation to the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much for outlining the purpose of the Scottish statutory instrument, minister.

As no one has any questions for the minister, I thank him and his officials for the evidence.

Item 4 is consideration of the motion on the instrument. I invite the minister to move motion S6M-02982.

Motion moved,

That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Non-Domestic Rates (Valuation Roll) (Modification) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 be approved.—[Tom Arthur]

Motion agreed to.

Good morning and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2022 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. I ask all members and witnesses to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent and that all other notifications are turned off during the meeting. Graeme Dey joins us remotely this morning.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take in private item 8, which is consideration of the evidence on the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill?

Members indicated agreement.

Yes, that was helpful.

Is it the Scottish Government’s view that successful appeals would be unlikely to prove effective in targeting support at those businesses that have been affected by coronavirus?

I call Graeme Dey, who joins us online.