Chamber and committees

Mr Shaw, we recognise that Scottish Enterprise’s role is different from that of the other two enterprise agencies in relation to supporting town centres and retail. It would be helpful if we could understand how Scottish Enterprise engages with the retail sector as opposed to town centres. Lindsay Methven from Scottish Enterprise is on the retail strategy steering group. What support do you provide to that sector, and how can that support town centres?

Scottish Enterprise has a role on the retail strategy steering group. What does it bring to the table? I do not quite understand how that matches with what you have said.

Because we are a bit pressed for time, I will pass over to Bill Lindsay to see whether he has anything to add, and whether he would like to comment on capacity in planning departments.

Under our second item of business, we will continue our evidence gathering for our town centres and retail inquiry. I welcome our first panel. Derek Shaw is director of innovation and place at Scottish Enterprise; Douglas Cowan is director of communities and place at Highlands and Islands Enterprise,and Bryan McGrath is director of place and enterprise at South of Scotland Enterprise. As always, if members and witnesses could keep their questions and answers as concise as possible, that would be helpful.

I will start with a general opening question about the town centre action plan. I am interested in the witnesses’ views on how their agency will be supporting the town centre action plan and what they see as their role. I will bring in Douglas Cowan and then Bryan McGrath. I have an additional question for Derek Shaw, so I will bring him in at the end.

Thank you. Communities Scotland came to an end in 2008, but we recognise that Scottish Enterprise has a different role. SOSE and Highlands and Islands Enterprise play a role in those parts of the country. Who is playing the equivalent role in the rest of the country? We understand that it is not Scottish Enterprise, because it has a different remit. Is it local authorities? Is it a combination? Bryan McGrath talked about partnership working.

Derek Shaw, one of the pressures that high streets have faced is online sales. It is a number of years since Scottish Enterprise invested in Amazon—I recognise that that investment is now quite old. With Scottish Enterprise’s focus on creating jobs and investment, Amazon was an appropriate company to invest in. However, it is one of the companies that has arguably led to pressure on high-street sales.

Although Scottish Enterprise’s remit is different from that of other enterprise agencies, I think that you have just said that the overriding principle is still around investment and job creation. Is there an improvement in the synergy between your remit and other things that the Government is progressing, such as the town centre retail strategy? There is an agenda around town centres but Scottish Enterprise made a decision in Fife—I accept that that was eight or 10 years ago—that could be seen as having a direct negative impact on high streets.

I welcome our second panel. Craig Iles, who is service lead in planning and building standards at South Ayrshire Council, joins us virtually. Bill Lindsay is service manager, policy and place in planning services, at Fife Council, and Steve Rogers is head of economy and development at Dumfries and Galloway Council. As I said to the previous panel, if members and witnesses can keep their questions and answers as concise as possible, that will help us to get through this morning’s business.

I will ask an initial opening question. I will start with Steve Rogers. During our inquiry, we have heard about certain issues in planning that might present challenges for the redevelopment of town centres. Do you think that there is enough flexibility in the planning system to enable and support regeneration and investment in our town centres? We have heard about the pressures in planning departments, which include the lack of capacity. Could you also comment on that issue?

Thank you. Mr Iles, is there anything that you want to add? During the inquiry, we have heard that there is sometimes frustration that planning will be restricted because of noise levels or other conditions. As Mr Lindsay has said, some of the restrictions are statutory and it is not possible for planners to make decisions that are counter to what the statutory position is.

We have to make some progress. I have two members left and we are running out of time.

Three members still wish to ask questions, so I ask people to be brief and as direct as possible in their questions and answers. That would be helpful.