Official Report 100KB pdf
Good morning and welcome to the Local Government and Communities Committee. Item 1 on our agenda is a proposal to take items 4 and 5 in private—they are our future work on fuel poverty and the committee's work programme. We have generally taken such items in private in the past. Do we agree to take items 4 and 5 in private?
I am not sure whether Mr McLetchie, who is just entering the room, will have a view on this. As there has been significant public interest in one of the items in our potential work programme—the business of planning applications in Aberdeenshire—I would like that to be discussed in public rather than in private.
I am happy to support that. It would be good for transparency if that item were taken in public.
We could issue a statement afterwards. I am concerned that we will discuss a range of work and that we might be seen to be ruling out or including certain groups and areas of work, which could cause us problems. I do not know whether we could separate that issue out.
I think that that would be advantageous, convener.
Can we do that? We will separate that issue out—
As a possible inquiry.
Yes. I might want to bring the issue forward. Item 4 is discussion of our future work on fuel poverty. I seek the committee's agreement to make that agenda item 5 and to make our work programme agenda item 4.
Does that help? [Interruption.] I am advised by the clerk that we should take that item after item 2 on the agenda and before consideration of the budget process.
We can then have a clear run in private thereafter.
Sorry about the confusion.
I draw members' attention to my declaration in the register of members' interests. The only relevant interest is my membership of the Law Society of Scotland.