The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1474 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
I will bring Alan Johnston in, because he has been involved in the discussions. It is safe to say that those discussions have been very good and there are now minor things that we need to tie up. As discussed during previous committee sessions, the process, as with the SBA, has been about engaging with developers to ensure that their concerns were picked up uniformly. I have met developers individually and collectively as we developed the developer remediation contract and we are very close to getting it signed. Although there is some commercial confidentiality in the process, it is important to say that discussions have been collaborative and I thank the sector for its efforts so far.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
I will bring in Stephen Garvin on that point, because there is broader building safety work that is being done around capacity.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
I am happy to come back to the committee and Ms Gallacher on that point as it develops. We are working very closely with the UK Government on the actions following Grenfell, so there will be on-going discussions on that.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
One issue is that each local authority is slightly different in terms of where the RAAC is in their areas. The situation is different in West Lothian, Clacks and Aberdeen. Our approach is based on what the local authorities’ approach would be, which has given them flexibility in their local approaches. Working collaboratively with local authorities is the key thing in that regard.
If members have specific concerns, I am happy to pick those up with local authorities. As I said, I have engaged with all local authorities that have issues with RAAC. If the committee or individual members have any specific concerns, I am happy to pick those up and take them forward. We expect the local authorities to take that approach.
I have engaged with local authorities and I think that they have been engaging with tenants and home owners on that point. If there are any specific issues and if members think that local authorities should be doing more or there is feedback from residents on that, I am happy to pick those issues up with Mr Griffin or with other committee members.
I do not know whether colleagues have anything to add on that. We continue to engage with all local authorities, and officials do so on a regular basis. Stephen Garvin might want to talk about that.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
The issue has been raised with the committee before. There is a role for all of us as MSPs to ensure that the culture change that you have just asked about happens; indeed, we have probably all had cases of constituents being blamed by their landlords. I am also aware of an evidence session that you had with Tenants Together Scotland and various local authorities, and I think that guidance to local authorities will be incredibly important in this area. The issue is becoming more prevalent since the sad case of Awaab Ishak, because people are now aware of their rights. That is an incredibly important part of the issue, and it has been acknowledged in the amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that we have lodged.
In my introductory remarks, I touched on the Scottish Housing Regulator’s new indicators for damp and mould, which I think will help here, and there is a role for the Government to disseminate that information, working with local authorities. After reading the evidence from Tenants Together Scotland and others, I think that there is a role for all of us, whether local authorities or whoever, to ensure that people are aware so that the sort of thing that you have highlighted does not happen and that tenants know that they have the right to have their property repaired in good time. The amendment and the indicators will set a direction of travel by which people will be made aware of their rights, and their behaviours will not be blamed.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
There are a number of things to highlight. A key issue is that we were keen to discuss the matter with the United Kingdom Government, and to work very closely together on it. We have certainly had those discussions and have tried to follow what it has been looking at.
As you know, our amendment was lodged on 17 March, and it will be discussed formally at committee. It gives Scottish ministers the power to introduce, through secondary legislation, timescales for social landlords to investigate hazards such as damp and mould and to commence repairs in that respect. It will also allow us to consider additional health-related hazards that should be covered by regulations in Scotland and, again, we will be very much following examples in the rest of the UK.
We have committed to further engagement and consultation across the sector and with tenants prior to the introduction of secondary legislation, and I think that that will be really important. Obviously, we are working with the regulator on the issue, too.
Another key thing will be to set out clearer rules and responsibilities when it comes to investigating and commencing repairs of hazards, although that is probably a matter for the consultation.
A key issue at the moment is, as you have mentioned, enforcing the right. That will also be part of our further engagement, and I am happy to come back to the committee on the matter, either in person or in writing, as we progress our discussions. It is really important that we engage with local authorities and others on what that will actually look like.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
Again, it comes back to working with the other stakeholders. We will be working closely with local authorities and other social landlords on that point. I am happy to come back to or to write to the committee on it, but it is part of the further consultation that is already happening.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
It is a work in progress.
We must work closely with social landlords on that issue, and we need to ensure that what we are doing is sustainable and realistic. It will very much mirror the UK Government’s approach. I am happy to come back on the specifics, but those discussions and consultations are going on as we speak.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
I have been made aware of the concern, and I have asked officials to look into the matter and see whether, if there is a gap in legislation, there is anything that we can do in that respect. I am happy to keep the committee informed on that. I do not know whether Stephen Garvin has anything to add, but we are looking into the issue and we will come back to the committee on it.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 April 2025
Paul McLennan
Is it okay to make a short statement?