Chamber and committees

Thanks for that.

Louise, the Ayrshires are not part of the pilot project, but you have, as Neil McInroy has said, been doing it on your own toot. Do you have any perspectives on this matter?

Thank you for pointing to those international examples. We will certainly have a look at those.

Matthew Brown indicated that he wants to come in.

That is an interesting point. That is certainly part of the conversation that is going on about efficiencies and things like that. Linda Somerville made an interesting point about infrastructure and looking to the potential in the renewables sector. Community Land Scotland, Community Energy Scotland and the Scottish Community Alliance have put forward a proposal on how we get community ownership of renewable energy, rather than just community benefit payments. It would be interesting to explore that as part of the mix.

Rob Davidson wants to come in.

I look forward to seeing that roll out. Miles Briggs has a couple of questions.

Absolutely. That issue needs to be cracked.

I know that Willie Coffey is particularly interested in town centre regeneration. Willie, do you want to come in at this point?

Does it make a difference that Midsteeple Quarter is a community-led and community-owned initiative? Is that an important part of it? I am thinking about the town in which I live, where there is quite a lot of town centre living and there are a few empty buildings. I am trying to grapple with the question whether being community led is an important part of such an initiative?

That was very helpful. We are certainly looking for ways of removing those blockages.

Matthew Brown wants to come in.

Yes—absolutely. We need the soft infrastructure. I will bring in Iain Gulland, then close this evidence session, because the committee still has a few little things to do and I know that colleagues need to get to other places.

The next agenda item is consideration of two negative Scottish statutory instruments. There is no requirement for the committee to make any recommendation on negative instruments.

As no member has any comments, does the committee agree that we do not wish to make any recommendation in relation to the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.