Chamber and committees

Professor Gibb, do you have anything to add?

In our discussion with the previous panel, we touched on some of the medium and long-term issues to do with the housing system and how it is managed. A number of actions in the Scottish Government’s housing to 2040 strategy are about ensuring that the housing market operates fairly and provides affordable housing options and choices in all communities. It is a huge ask of councils to manage and implement some of those actions.

Do you think that any progress has been made on that aim? What else needs to be done to ensure that progress can be made? As councils, what role do you have in supporting that action? Do you think that that is not achievable as part of your role as councils? Perhaps we can start with Derek McGowan, then move round.

That is excellent.

Dr Anderson, did you want to answer?

In that case, what suggestions would your organisations make for what should happen next? Yes, timescales have been short, but we have to make progress for the future. Some of the barriers are being managed better, and the relationship has improved in some locations. What are your wants and needs for the future to ensure that what the legal profession has—and continues to have—is relatively seamless in terms of what you want to achieve?

Does our legal profession find that it can work with some of the 27 member states? Are certain countries more amenable? If that is the case, which are they and why are they more amenable or why does the legal profession find working with them easier? Are some just not used at all, because of the complexities? You talked about a situation with Luxembourg that has now been resolved. Do the majority of the member states have such capacity, or do you find it easier to negotiate with some of them because they are some more favourable to working with you?

Professor Collins, is there anything that you would like to add?

Good morning, convener. I am delighted to be a member of the committee, as I was a member of the Local Government and Communities Committee for four years in the previous session.

My only declaration of interest is that I was a serving councillor on Perth and Kinross Council for 18 years, between 1999 and 2017.

The requirement to hold public consultation events for master consent area schemes is limited to those authorising major or national developments. That could exclude consultation on an MCA that authorises up to 49 new homes in a single development. Why is that the case, and what repercussions could there be?

Why is there no requirement for MCA documentation to be made available in public libraries and council offices? That has been the standard approach to local development plans in the past. Why might there be a change for master consent areas?