Minutes: 21 February 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petition—

PE1947: Address Scotland's culture of youth violence, taking evidence from—

Emily Beever, Senior Development Officer, No Knives, Better Lives

Will Linden,  Deputy Head of Unit and Head of Analysis,  Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU)

Jonathan Watters, Community Policing Inspector, Police Scotland.

and then considered—

PE1864: Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

PE1916: Request a public inquiry into the management of the rest and be thankful project. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport.

PE1957: Home Reports – make surveyors more accountable. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

PE2002: Ensure access to legal aid for people with disabilities. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

3. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions—

PE2050: Prohibit the use of recreational drones on national nature reserves without a permit from NatureScot. The Committee agreed to write to NatureScot, Police Scotland, and the UK Government.

PE2051: Improve the processes for protecting children and young people from traumatic incidents at school. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.

PE2058: Require all dog boarding kennels to install smoke detectors, smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, COSLA, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, The Dog’s Trust, and other relevant stakeholders.

PE2059: Ensure pedestrian crossings cannot be disabled without an equivalent safety measure in place. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.

4. Consideration of Evidence (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under agenda item 2.

5. Review of Evidence - PE1979 (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at its last meeting on petition PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies.

6. Review of Evidence - A9 Dualling Project (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at its last meeting and agreed to write to CECA Scotland, and to invite Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon as former First Ministers, to give evidence at a future meeting.