Chamber and committees

As has been stated, in Scotland only one such programme of works has been progressed. A huge amount of detail is not in the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill, including on the single building assessment, the cladding assurance register and the responsible developers scheme. Does the cabinet secretary acknowledge that the continued absence of that detail in the bill creates risks for those who are affected, including residents and home builders, and that it has the potential to prolong uncertainty for residents who are impacted?

I rise to speak against the motion on the draft Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023.

When the First Minister announced the policy in April, he stated that it would improve the availability of sustainable long-term housing opportunities. In the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s deliberations, we have heard very little evidence to suggest that the policy will provide any additional homes or that it will encourage people who have second homes in Scotland to change how they use their properties.

There are also significant concerns about the policy in relation to potential behavioural change. The committee heard that there has been a decline in second home ownership and that there are, in Scotland, existing taxes on second homes, including the additional dwelling supplement, which is added to land and buildings transaction tax.

Witnesses to the committee also explained that they believe that the regulations could have unintended consequences. In particular, second home owners might instead increase the availability of their properties for holiday letting in order to become eligible for non-domestic rates, instead of paying council tax. The small business bonus provides relief from NDR of up to 100 per cent, which means that, in practice, many holiday-let owners currently pay no council tax or NDR.

We are all acutely aware of the pressures that local government in Scotland faces after a decade of SNP and Green ministers targeting them with budget cuts. Many councils will see the potential of a new revenue stream to fill that black hole, assuming that we see no behavioural change taking place. However, the policy presents no expectations on how councils should use that additional income—for example, in applying it to providing more affordable housing and addressing the housing crisis in Scotland.

Therefore, at decision time, the Scottish Conservatives will not support the motion.

Okay. Many organisations that have influenced our work still have a lot of questions about the buildings that are not being included and about how that will be dealt with as the bill progresses.

One aspect to consider when undertaking remedial work is economies of scale. Will work to retrofit buildings be co-ordinated to try to ensure that economies of scale can be realised?

I have raised concerns with the previous minister, Tom Arthur, about charging points that are attached to buildings. Specific concerns have been raised with us with regard to electric bikes and electric cars. That is not covered in the bill currently. Are you mindful to look at the issue and include that aspect in the bill, given some of the incidents that have happened?

That is helpful.

I would hope that individual council officials need to be held to account in very few cases. However, the code has given them additional protection so that councillors feel that they cannot raise concerns. Maybe it needs to be reviewed to look at that. It might be useful for you and the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to speak to councillors who have raised those concerns so that you can see why they feel that the code is holding them back in their scrutiny role.

That is helpful. My line of questioning was also about whether any work has been done to consider whether similar bodies in the United Kingdom and Europe have a different model or other countries are using a better set of powers to govern some of that.

That is great. Thank you.

Good morning, and thanks for joining us. Last week, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman discussed with us the demographics of people who escalate complaints to that office. Have you carried out any work yourself on those who complain, and why?

Good morning, and thanks for joining us. In some of the meetings that we have had with affected residents and experts, they have been critical of the limited progress that we have made in Scotland to date. What learning is taking place to try to align the bill with the schemes that have been progressed in England and Wales, given that many of the companies operate across the UK?

That is helpful. To return to Willie Coffey’s line of questioning, I note that the Public Services Ombudsman stated last week that it would like legislation to change to grant it own-initiative investigative powers. Are you content with your powers as they currently sit? What opportunity might you have to strengthen them?

I also note that some of our conversation today has concerned unfounded or spurious complaints about elected members and whether there is an opportunity to state earlier in an investigation whether you can investigate such complaints, especially with regard to social media.