Finance Committee, 10 Sep 2002

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 10, 2002

Official Report 221KB pdf

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Budget Process 2003-04

Item 3 is on meeting outwith Edinburgh. Members have a paper that outlines options for a meeting outside Edinburgh at stage 2 of the 2003-04 budget process. The committee has met in locations that the Parliament had not visited before and the suggestion is that we aim on this occasion to meet in north-west Scotland.

The paper suggests that we visit Portree, as that would allow us to continue to follow the island theme that we began at stage 1 of the budget process and compare and contrast the situation in the Hebrides with that of the northern isles. The paper suggests Ullapool as an alternative, should we prefer to remain on the mainland. Of course members might want to make additional suggestions.

The paper seeks our agreement on the date of the meeting, which is proposed for 18 November, as well as on the format and venue for it. Do members have any comments to make on the suggestions in the paper?

I am delighted that places such as Portree and Ullapool are being considered. There is no doubt that that goes down well. I respect other members' views, but if the committee is amenable to going to such places, that is very welcome.

I have no problem with the suggestions. I suspect that at some stage—I say this as a member for a rural constituency—we should begin to visit urban areas outwith Edinburgh, but perhaps that is something to consider for the next occasion.

I suggested Clydebank to you informally in the lift the other day.

Of course we consider Ullapool to be urban.

Are members content with either Portree or Ullapool? Shall we leave it to the clerks to identify which venue would be more appropriate for consultation, hotel arrangements and so on?

Members indicated agreement.

Are there any questions on the date or format of the meeting? I think that the format of our meeting in Orkney was successful, so the suggestion is that we try something similar this time. Do members agree to proceed on that basis?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 4 is to be taken in private, so I ask the official report, broadcasting and the public to leave us for a couple of minutes.

Meeting continued in private.

Meeting continued in public.