Minutes: 11 February 2026

1. Consideration of continued petitions:

The Committee considered the following continued petitions—  

• PE1864: Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE1885: Make offering Community Shared Ownership mandatory for all windfarm development planning proposals. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2095: Improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2109: Halt any further pump storage hydro schemes on Scottish lochs holding wild Atlantic salmon. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.  

• PE2157: Update planning advice for energy storage issues and ensure that it includes clear guidance for the location of battery energy storage systems near residences and communities. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Finance. 

• PE2159: Halt the production of hydrogen from freshwater. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science. 

• PE2160: Introduce an energy strategy. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE1859: Retain falconers' rights to practise upland falconry in Scotland to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2112: Conduct an independent review of childcare costs and availability in Scotland. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.
  

• PE2138: Make publicly owned buildings accessible for people with colour blindness. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2149: Install speed cameras near schools. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2151: Grant protected status to primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2163: Develop guidance on child contact domestic abuse. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2166: Establish a standardised timeframe for civil proceedings in child custody cases. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.               

2. Consideration of new petitions:

The Committee considered the following new petitions—  

• PE2210: Improve access to local healthcare in rural communities. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders. 

• PE2211: Follow the science and broaden eligibility for Covid vaccines. The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders.