Minutes: 14 November 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.

Stephanie Callaghan MSP declared an interest as having served as a Councillor on South Lanarkshire Council.

Marie McNair MSP also declared an interest as having served as a Councillor on West Dunbartonshire Council.

 

 

2. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Mirren Kelly, Chief Officer, Local Government Finance and Cllr Gail Macgregor, Environment and Economy Spokesperson, COSLA;

and then from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, Ninian Christie, Solicitor, Scottish Government Legal Directorate, Alisdair Grahame, Policy Adviser, Local Government and Analytical Services Division and Ben Haynes, Bill Team Leader, Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government.

3. Council Tax Freeze:

The Committee took evidence from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance and Ellen Leaver, Deputy Director, Local Government and Analytical Services Division, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023.

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

 

 

5. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

6. Council Tax Freeze (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.