Local Government and Regeneration Committee
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Official Report
337KB pdf
Interests
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the first meeting of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee in the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament.
First, I remind all those present, including members, that mobile phones and BlackBerrys should be turned off completely as they interfere with the sound system even when they are switched to silent. I have just realised that I have one here. I beg your pardon. I did this in the last committee as well. Tut, tut.
For the benefit of new members, I point out that the sound operator will switch on your microphone when you speak. You do not need to fiddle about with the gubbins yourself.
Under rule 12.1.6 of standing orders, the first meeting of a committee after it is established by Parliament shall be chaired by the oldest member of the committee until a convener is chosen. I am that member, so welcome to all you dreadfully young people. [Laughter.]
The first item on the agenda is a declaration of interests. In accordance with section 3 of the code of conduct for members of the Scottish Parliament, I invite members to declare any interests that are relevant to the committee’s remit. I remind members that any declaration should be brief but sufficiently detailed to make the nature of the interest clear to any listener. I will start, then we will go round the table. I ask each member to give their name and then declare any interests.
Like several of you, I am an existing councillor—I am a member of Fife Council—so that is my first interest. Obviously, I will state that when anything comes up regarding Fife Council, and similarly for the regeneration aspect of the committee’s work. I am also involved in various voluntary organisations as a Fife councillor but I am trying to extricate myself from some of those as the year goes on. I will be a councillor only until next May. I plan to declare anything that touches at all on what we might do during the year.
I am a member of Aberdeen City Council.
I have no relevant interests to declare.
I am an elected member of Fife Council.
I have no relevant interests to declare.
I am an elected member of North Lanarkshire Council.
I have no relevant interests to declare.
Thank you, everyone. I obviously spoke far too much.