Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Official Report 301KB pdf

Interests

Good morning, and welcome to the first meeting in 2018 of the Local Government and Communities Committee. I remind everyone to turn off their mobile phones. As meeting papers are provided in a digital format, members may use tablets during the meeting.

I wish everyone a happy new year, on our first day back. No apologies have been received—we have a full house, which is good to see.

Agenda item 1 is a declaration of interests. Members will note that Elaine Smith has left the committee to pursue a new role in her party. I wish her well in her new role and thank her for her vital contribution to the committee’s work this session. This is my first time as the convener of a committee, so I have really appreciated her support, for which I give her my personal thanks.

That said, we are delighted that Monica Lennon has been appointed as the new member of the committee from the Labour Party. I welcome her and invite her to declare any interests that are relevant to the committee’s work.

Thank you for that warm welcome, convener.

I refer the committee to my register of interests. Members will note that I am a chartered town planner. I am not practising, but I am still a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Also, until 4 May last year, I was an elected member of South Lanarkshire Council.

That sounds like a pretty good track record for coming on to the committee.