Minutes: 16 December 2025

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2. Draft Climate Change Plan:

The Committee took evidence from—

Cllr Gail Macgregor, Environment and Economy Spokesperson, and Robert Nicol, Chief Officer - Environment and Economy, COSLA;

Clare Wharmby, Co-Director, Scottish Climate Intelligence Service;

George Tarvit, Director, Sustainable Scotland Network;

Craig Hatton, Climate Change Lead, Solace;

Ian Hughes, Engagement Director Scotland, Construction Industry Training Board;

Professor Sean Smith, Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists;

Gillian Campbell, Director, Existing Homes Alliance Scotland;

Nicola Barclay, Chair, Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST);

Elaine Waterson, Policy Manager (Scotland), Energy Saving Trust.

3. Draft Climate Change Plan (in private):

The Committee agreed to defer its private consideration of the evidence heard under agenda item 2 until its next meeting.

4. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed to write to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding themes arising from its scrutiny of the Draft Climate Change Plan in advance of publishing its report on the subject. The Committee agreed to consider this letter in private at a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to receive a private briefing on proposed visitor levy legislation from the Scottish Government bill team. The Committee agreed to consider an approach to this legislation in private at its next meeting.

The Committee agreed to defer discussion on other parts of its work programme to its next meeting and to consider this in private.