Public Petitions Committee, 10 Dec 2002
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Official Report
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Inadmissible Petitions
Howwood Road Housing Scheme (IP34)
The committee is invited to agree the recommendation on petition IP34, from Mr Alan Houston, calling on the Scottish Parliament to overturn the decision of Renfrewshire Council to demolish a number of homes on the outskirts of the Howwood road housing scheme in Paisley.
The petitioners claim—this is why we think that the petition is inadmissible—that Renfrewshire Council, despite giving the impression that their homes on the outskirts of the estate would be included in a second phase of renovation, now proposes to demolish those homes, many of which are privately owned, as part of its regeneration plans for the community. Furthermore, the petitioners argue that, although all the residents involved object to the proposals, the council plans to remove the residents, by court action if necessary.
As members are aware, it would be inappropriate for the Parliament to interfere in the individual executive decisions of local authorities in Scotland. It is therefore recommended that the committee agree that the petition is inadmissible. However, the committee may wish to suggest to the petitioner that he should consider submitting a complaint to the Scottish public services ombudsman, if there is any evidence of maladministration on the part of the local authority involved, or that he could pursue the matter further through the courts. Do members agree?
It seems a shame that we cannot even hear the petition. I understand the need not to interfere in a local authority's business, but sometimes we have to, if something relevant is raised with us concerning a local authority's allegedly wrongful action. It seems awful that people's houses are being knocked down. Going to the local government ombudsman would be like falling down a rabbit hole, never to be seen again.
There is a new public services ombudsman, Dorothy. I agree that it is always difficult for us to rule petitions on such issues inadmissible, but we can consider only more general issues. In the past, we have taken the view that we would not interfere in a decision that falls within that devolved settlement. Do members agree, on that basis, to the recommendation on the petition?
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting closed at 12:42.