Minutes: 04 November 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.

2. Local government stakeholder roundtables – evidence:

The Committee took evidence from—

Mo Baines, Chief Executive Officer, Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE);

Jennifer Henderson, Member, Accounts Commission;

Pippa Milne, Chair of SOLACE Scotland, and Argyll and Bute Chief Executive, SOLACE Scotland;

John Mooney, Regional Organiser, UNISON;

Heather Yedigaroff, Chief Operating Officer, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU);

and then from—

Elizabeth Docherty, Director, Scottish Community Alliance;

Justin Kenrick, Chair, Action Porty;

Councillor David Ross, Leader of Fife Council, Fife Council;

Pauline Smith, Chief Executive, Development Trusts Association Scotland.

3. Local government stakeholder roundtable – consideration (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

4. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered and agreed its work programme. It agreed:

• its strategic principles and objectives, which will be published on the Committee’s webpage;
• its work programme priorities for the period up to summer recess 2027, including work on: the Scottish Government’s benefit take up strategy; local government councillors code of conduct; local government reform; rent control area assessments; planning aspects of AI data centres; housing supply (including More Homes Scotland), homelessness prevention; benefit appeals; and child poverty;
• witnesses for forthcoming evidence sessions on: the Scottish Government’s benefit take up strategy; local government councillors code of conduct; and rent control area assessments;
• to hold annual evidence sessions on the issue of child poverty, and with the Scottish Housing Regulator, Social Security Scotland and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator;
• to invite the Scottish Fiscal Commission to give evidence on social security spending forecasts;
• to invite Audit Scotland to give evidence on its Housing Audit.

5. Pre-Budget scrutiny – letter (in private):

The Committee considered a revised draft letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing regarding its scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027-28. Various changes were agreed to, and the letter was agreed for publication.