Communities Committee, 19 Nov 2003
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Official Report
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Item in Private
I welcome everyone to this meeting of the Communities Committee.
Under item 1, I invite members to agree to take item 3 in private. Item 3 concerns the approach that we will take to the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill. Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Before we move on to item 2, I have to announce that Jim Johnston, our clerk, will be leaving us at the end of this meeting—some might think that to be gone is an absolute joy. I want to say something at this point rather than at the end of the meeting because, given the work that we are about to do over the next hour, we might be a little brain dead by then.
I put on record my thanks to Jim Johnston, who has been the clerk to the committee over the last period. During his time on the committee, he has dealt with complex and often controversial legislation. We greatly appreciate all the work that he has done. He has been very supportive of my convenership. If he has been exasperated with me, he has never shown it—I suppose that that is the mark of the true civil servant. He has also given a lot of support to other committee members. Probably more importantly, he has given real commitment to the work of the committee. It is that kind of work that sustains the integrity of the committee structure.
As I said, we are very appreciative of everything that you have done, Jim. We wish you all the very best. Perhaps at some point in the future, if you are really badly behaved, you will come back to us. Again, I thank you very much for all that you have done. Your work is very much appreciated. We wish you all the best for the future. [Applause.]