Seòmar agus comataidhean

On the part of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 that has led to the review, are you content that different boundaries will be used for island councils than would be used on the mainland? In respect of the principles behind a review that will come forward post council elections, there will, if the regulations are approved by Parliament, be variations in council wards for the elections.

I also want to mention the implementation of unsuitable accommodation orders. Many families, during the pandemic especially, have been left in bed and breakfasts and hotels and other unsuitable accommodation. When will the Government fully implement those orders?

It would helpful for the committee if you could keep us updated on that.

I will ask about homelessness, specifically with regard to the September 2017 Scottish Government announcement of an additional £50 million over five years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. It is not exactly clear in the latest programme for government whether the £50 million ending homelessness together fund is additional money. Could you clarify that?

That would be helpful. If it is additional money, how much money is still in the 2017 fund to be allocated? It should run for another two years, if my calculations are correct.

I know from discussions that I have had with the cabinet secretary that organisations such as Crisis Scotland and Shelter Scotland have put forward a preventive model, which I know the cabinet secretary and Government are considering, to strengthen homelessness prevention legislation. Given the impact of the pandemic, could you outline the timescale for that? There are opportunities to consider a preventive model.

You touched on your work during the pandemic, which has impacted every organisation. We are still feeling the impacts today—indeed, you are having to give evidence remotely. Has your work been constrained by time, given the fact that the Government has asked for proposals to be introduced before next year’s council elections? Has the pandemic impacted on your ability to really find out the views of communities? Have communities really been engaged in the work over the period?

With the council elections rapidly approaching, what can be done to improve council demographics? We want to encourage more women, younger people and people from ethnic minorities to put themselves forward and get involved in local government. One of the issues that people have raised with us is around remuneration for councillors. Given your experience, what do you think would encourage more people to consider putting themselves forward?

I will start with Kim, because I know that you have commented previously on the matter.

I want to return to points that the convener has already raised about our correspondence and evidence session with Councillor Margaret Davidson. She told the committee that there was a good initial conversation between the council and Boundaries Scotland, but much of what the council relayed to the commission during the early conversations was not taken on board when the proposals were drawn up. We have already heard concerns with regard to Sutherland, Wester Ross and the Loch Ness communities. How were those concerns taken on board? What community engagement took place? How do you respond to the specific concerns that Highland Council expressed?

Good morning. I have a two-pronged question. First, how has the integration of health and social care worked or not worked? Secondly, concerns have been expressed to the committee about the proposed national care service. What impact will the proposals have on the topic that we are talking about—empowering our local councils and our democracies? I will start with Angus Hardie. If other witnesses who want to speak put an R in the chat box, I hope that we can bring them in.