Chamber and committees

I mean outcomes in relation to improvement for communities, individuals and residents, as we move forward.

I want to touch on Pam Gosal’s comments about the length of time that is taken to deal with planning applications. As a former councillor, I have seen the interactions that are carried out on these matters, and I note the numbers of visits and discussions that council planning staff and so on are involved in to ensure that they get the detail right. I am looking for a bit of reassurance that that work is recognised and will not be compromised, and that the statutory pre-application consultations with residents and communities with regard to major housing developments will not be compromised either.

I have one more question, for clarity. It sounds very much like you are talking about local authorities taking quite a joined-up approach, as well as getting support at the national level, across maintenance, repairs, adaptations, retrofitting and so on. Are you seeing that approach across local authorities?

It is good to hear that, because I have seen the positive influence that has come from community consultation, the changes that have been made and the impact that that has had, and things have been much better as a result.

I should probably mention that I was a councillor in South Lanarkshire Council until 2022.

I am interested in the role of community planning partnerships in delivering community wealth building. I am aware that the Federation of Small Businesses has said that significant system and behaviour overhaul is needed. What role do you see for community planning partnerships and other existing structures? How can those can be developed, and do we have the right people sitting at the table? Is there a need for the legislation around those to change?

I am interested in hearing from Stacey Dingwall and Louise Kirk on that issue, and I expect that Neil McInroy will also have a contribution to make. I am happy to hear from anyone else who is interested.

Would you suggest any legislative changes?

Good morning. I am Stephanie Callaghan, and am the MSP for the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency in Lanarkshire.

What you have said brought to mind a local company in my constituency, ACS Clothing, which some of you might have heard of. It started off by providing kilt hire and such things, but it has now shifted to looking at access to ownership and the circular economy. In its work and recruitment processes, it deliberately targets refugees, neurodivergent people, older people, people with disabilities and people with criminal records, who can find it quite hard to get work. What opportunities might there be to promote such approaches to help to reduce inequality?

Do those wellbeing indicators need to be front and centre?

I have heard people in the third sector say that it should be known as the community sector rather than the third sector.

I am also interested in the five pilots that have happened over the past five years. I will stay with Louise Kirk for now. What differences can you see in the pilot area? What data or evidence are you collecting of the difference that it is making to, for example, inequalities?