Chamber and committees

I will continue the theme of meeting needs. In previous evidence, the committee heard about the challenges of providing the right homes in the right locations. For example, in written evidence, Highland Council said:

“Numbers alone should not be the sole determinant, though they are a useful target or ambition ... Government should be honest enough to question whether a lower but more focussed number may be more appropriate. In short, the right homes in the right place of the right size and right tenure at the right time and for the right people, adapted as required for needs is arguably more appropriate and may lead to a lower total number being more appropriate”.

What is your view of this statement?

We move to rural-focused questions from Miles Briggs.

The fourth item on our agenda today is to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government on the affordable housing programme, as part of our pre-budget scrutiny. Shona Robison is joined by Scottish Government officials from the more homes division: Alastair Dee is the area manager; and Colin MacBean is the deputy director.

Before I open the session to questions from members, I ask the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.

Thank you. We continue on that theme.

We will move on to theme 2, which is around the financial capacity of social landlords in balancing priorities.

You will be aware of an issue that the committee has heard about, in that communities need to come up with about £110,000 before they can even access the money that is available in the funds. Is that being considered in the plan? I am also interested to hear what the timescale is for the plan.

Thank you. That would be very welcome.

We move on to a new theme: grant subsidy benchmark levels and progress with delivery. I invite Mark Griffin to lead on those questions.

Willie Coffey joins us online.

Yes.

Thank you very much for offering to update us on the remote, rural and island housing action plan. That will be very much appreciated.

I am also interested in hearing about the setting up of the innovative finance steering group. You said that that will be done before the end of the year. We would appreciate updates on that and an understanding of its timescale. How long will that group be in existence? It would also be useful for us to know its remit.