Closed petitions with the LGR Committee
Details of petitions which were referred to and closed, after consideration, by this Committee are outlined below:
Open Petitions can be found on the LGR Committee's homepage.
PE01497
PE01497: Supermarket expansion on local high streets
Lodged 7 December 2013
Closed 26 January 2015
On 30 September 2014 the Public Petitions Committee referred petition PE1497 to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee.
The Committee considered its approach to this petition at its meeting on 27th October 2014.
The Committee agreed to consider the petition as part of its scrutiny of Part 8 the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, which relates to Non-Domestic Rates.
After looking at the provisions of the Bill, what the petition was calling on the Scottish Government to do in relation to major retail outlets in urban areas and the evidence provided to the Petitions Committee, the Committee decided there was nothing further it could reasonable do on the petition.
PE1433
PE1433: On productive land for landless Scots to grow their own food
Lodged 22 May 2012
Closed 26 January 2015
On 6 March 2013 the Public Petitions Committee referred petition PE1433 to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee.
The Committee considered its approach to this petition at its meeting on 13 March 2013. At the meeting, the Committee agreed to bring the petition to the attention of the Land Reform Review Group ("LRRG") and to ask the LRRG for a written update on their work. The Committee also agreed to include the petitioner as a potential witness, when the Committee undertakes its consideration of the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.
The Committee wrote to the Chair of the LRRG on 6 June 2013, highlighting the petition and asking for a response for Friday 19 July:
The Committee received a response from the Land Reform Review Group on 18 July 2013
Timetable of events:
- Petition PE 1433 referred to the Committee on 6 March 2013
- Approach to PE1433 agreed by the Committee on 13 March 2013
- Update sought from LRRG - June 2013
- Response received from LRRG - July 2013
The Committee considered the petition, and reference is made to it in paragraph’s 50, 51, 416, 426, 428 and 445 of the Stage 1 report. Specifically, in relation to Part 7 of the Bill on Allotments, the evidence the petitioner provided in support of the petition was cited on several occasions in terms of our findings, both in terms of allotments and food growing strategies.
In light of this work, the Committee agreed that there were no further steps it could reasonably take in relation to the petition. The Committee, therefore, decided to close your petition as part of the publication of the Stage 1 report.
PE01538
PE01538: Transparency in SPSO investigations
Lodged 15 October 2014
Closed 14 January 2015
On 25 November 2014 the Public Petitions Committee referred petition PE1538 to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee.
At its meeting on the 10 December 2014 the Committee agreed to consider the petition as part of its scrutiny of the 2013/14 SPSO annual report at its meeting on 7 January 2015 and in preparation for that meeting to invite the SPSO to submit to the Committee written comment on the petition by 18 December 2014.
The letter from the SPSO was sent to the Petitioners for comment, their response can be seen below.
The Public Petitions Committee wrote to the Scottish Government regarding the Petition. Read the Scottish Governments response here:
Letter from the Clerks to the peitioner on the closing of the petition - 19 January 2015:
PE1469
Closed 20 August 2014
Lodged 19 March 2013
PE1469 was referred to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee 10 December 2013
The remit of this petition is:
- 'Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to consider a change in planning regulations to enable an increase in the current neighbour notification distance of 20 metres in relation to wind turbine planning applications.'
The Committee will consider the draft National Planning Framework 3 and review of Scottish Planning Policy in January 2014.
The Committee may take the opportunity provided by this work to consider issues raised by this petition. Further information will be provided when the Committee agrees its aproach to consideration of PE1469.
Scottish Government Response
On the 1 August 2014, the Scottish Government provided their respose to the Committee on PE1469.
Committee Decision
The Committee considered PE1469 by Aileen Jackson, on Neighbour notification distances for wind turbine applications. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government acknowledging the actions it has taken on this petition and requesting that the Government ensures that the Petitioner is specifically consulted on the proposed draft guidance to be issued by the Government, and that any views she expresses are taken into account by the Government before it finalises such guidance. The Committee also agreed that a copy of the finalised guidance should be provided directly to the Petitioner, and that the Committee should be notified of this by the Government, when the guidance is published in spring 2015. Furthermore, the Committee requested that the Government ensures that the finalised guidance is properly publicised and brought to the attention of all planning authorities in Scotland, as well as all those making applications for the development of onshore wind farms, and any other relevant persons or organisations whom the Scottish Government considers it appropriate to notify. The Committee agreed to close PE1469 with immediate effect.
PE1423
The Public Petitions Committee referred PE1423, in the name of Gordon Hall on behalf of The Unreasonable Learners, to the Committee on 3 December 2012.
The Public Petitions Committee referred PE1405 to the Committee on 15 November 2011.
At its meeting on Wednesday 8 February 2012, the Committee considered its approach to PE1405. It also took oral evidence on the petition from Andrew Muir, the petitioner
At its meeting on Wednesday 14 March 2012, the Committee took evidence from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
At its meeting on Wednesday 28 March 2012, the Committee agreed to close the petition.
PE1320
The Public Petitions Committee referred PE1320 to the Committee on 28 June 2011.
At its meeting on Wednesday 7 September 2011, the Committee considered its approach to PE1320.
At its meeting on Wednesday 14 September 2011, the Committee took oral evidence on the petition from Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner, Scottish Government; Craig McLaren, National Director, Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland; and George Eckton, Team Leader, Environment and Regeneration Team, COSLA.
Oral evidence of 14 September 2011 (423KB pdf)
At its meeting on Wednesday 23 November 2011, the Committee took oral evidence on the petition from Douglas McKenzie, Chair, and Iain Cane, Member, Communities Against Airfield Open Cast.
Oral evidence of 23 November 2011 (289KB pdf)
At its meeting on Wednesday 18 January 2012, the Committee agreed to formally close petition PE1320.
Oral evidence of 18 January 2012 (470KB pdf)
Written Evidence