Minutes: 24 June 2025

1. Declaration of interests:

Evelyn Tweed was invited to declare any relevant interests. She declared an interest as a member of Loreburn Housing Association Ltd.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

3. National Planning Framework 4 Annual Review:

The Committee took evidence from—


Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, Scottish Government, Cara Davidson, Head of Environment and Net Zero, Andy Kinnaird, Head of Transforming Planning, Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner, Director of Planning, Architecture and Regeneration, Carrie Thomson, Head of Development Planning & Housing.

4. National Planning Framework 4 Annual Review (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to local authorities and SEPA. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Government on its annual review of NPF4.

5. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed—

to consider quarterly updates from the Scottish Government on its cladding remediation programme at suitable points in its work programme;

to seek information from stakeholders on progress towards completion of local development and local place plans;

to hold annual evidence sessions at a suitable point in its work programme with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Ethical Standards Commissioner, the Standards Commission for Scotland and the Scottish Housing Regulator;

to write to the Chair of the Independent Review of the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries;

to write to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on the Building Standards Levy (Scotland) Bill;

to undertake a visit to learn more about heat networks;

its approach to pre-budget scrutiny for the 2026-27 Budget; and

its approach to consideration of the draft National Good Food Nation Plan.