As an amendment to motion S6M-11027 in the name of Paul McLennan (Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan), leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "notes the publication of the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan, which aims to support the Scottish Government’s ambition to deliver 110,000 affordable homes, of which 10% will be in rural and island areas; believes that an interim target should be set for 5,500 houses to be completed in rural areas by 2026; is concerned that, without sufficient economic support from the Scottish Government, the strategy will not provide the infrastructure needed to allow local authorities, registered social landlords, community organisations and Scottish Government agencies to successfully attract people to, and retain people in, these communities; considers that the depopulation of rural areas should not be seen as the status quo, and notes the Scottish Labour Party’s commitment to put economic prosperity at the front and centre of ensuring that Gaelic-speaking communities can survive and thrive; notes that this rural housing crisis is, in some part, due to local people being priced out of the area by the acquisition of second homes; calls on the Scottish Government to take further action to ensure that houses in rural areas are affordable and good quality, and that existing homes are a vital part of the housing stock; agrees that the Scottish Government should give local authorities powers to introduce an escalating council tax surcharge on empty homes in the next Budget, to be launched in 2024-25, as was supported by the responses to the Scottish Government’s recent consultation on Council Tax for Second and Empty Homes, and calls on the Scottish Government to take decisive action to tackle fuel poverty and damp, poor quality housing in rural areas, to improve transport infrastructure, and to support the economic lifeblood of small rural communities by delivering skilled workforces, supporting small businesses and ensuring a just transition that delivers community energy benefits."
Result 22 for, 96 against, 3 abstained, 8 did not vote Vote Defeated
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Alba Party
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Monday, October 30, 2023
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Patrick Harvie, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Result 69 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote Vote Passed
Submitted by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, October 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Result 55 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote Vote Defeated