Chamber and committees

Thank you very much.

I do not know whether Alison McGrory wants to come in next.

Thanks for that. Craig, would you like to come in on that, please?

There are a couple of bits that I would still like to ask about. Everyone has mentioned the cost of living crisis, but do any of you have any evidence or experience of community planning reducing inequalities?

Good morning, everyone. I am sorry that I am not there in person. I am looking at the inequalities and challenges that are faced by local communities. We have had witnesses in previous evidence sessions describe the challenges that they face, especially in relation to the firefighting responses that have been seen during recent crises. Could you kick off by saying what you believe are the main challenges faced by communities? I am a Glasgow member, so I will go to Ellen first, please.

I am a regional member for Glasgow.

Good morning, convener and panel.

We have heard that inequalities are a moving target and that a lot has changed in the last eight years. What are your organisations’ roles, as community planning partners, in helping to tackle inequalities? May I ask that of Mark first, please?

Good morning. Scottish Enterprise’s submission states that its customer base is the business community. How well are businesses engaging with CPPs, and what more can be done to ensure that small and large businesses can help to identify and meet local priorities? I will go to Derek Shaw first.

Does anyone else want to come in?

I have one follow-up question. This subject was touched on in response to the last question. The 2015 act places a duty on CPPs to tackle socioeconomic inequalities. To what extent can CPPs help to prevent inequalities rather than deal with their consequences?

I will go first to Valerie, because she touched on the fact that Police Scotland directs people to food banks.