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 662 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
I will stick with land management plans. The bill includes provisions that qualify earlier provisions on who can make complaints about public engagement and how it has been taken forward. At present, those provisions are quite restrictive.
A few weeks ago, the Scottish Land Commission published a paper suggesting that the list of bodies that can make such complaints should be expanded to include
“Community Councils, Enterprise Agencies, National Park Authorities, and the Crofting Commission”.
Is the existing qualification for making complaints right, or should it be expanded? If it should be expanded, have the right organisations been suggested for that?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
The question takes on a slightly different shape for you, Sarah, because the commission proposes expanding the list to enterprise agencies, which would include yours. Is it right that a body such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise should be able to make complaints about the handling of a public consultation on a land management plan?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Dr Wight, I put that question to you as well.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
I can imagine that.
Rob Carlow, as a landowner, would you take offence if a neighbour or a tenant on your land raised a complaint about how you had gone about your community engagement and taken forward your land management plan?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Finlay, in your experience have you come across such challenges or concerns?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
That is helpful. My interpretation of what you have said is that you think that the bill should deal with the broad principles of the framework of what should be in a land management plan; it should set out the key principles rather than a specification of the detail that should be in a land management plan. Am I getting that correct?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Specifically, what is missing from the bill?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Do you think that the community right-to-buy provisions in the bill, as drafted, strike the right balance between public and private interests? That question is for Max Wiszniewski.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Okay. Sarah, can I put the same question to you on the balance between public and private interests with regard to the right to buy?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 4 February 2025
Michael Matheson
Okay—thank you.