RAE/S3/08/14/M

14th Meeting, 2008 (Session 3)

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Present:

Also present: Christine Grahame

Apologies were received from Des McNulty and Mike Rumbles.

The meeting opened at 10.04 am.

1. Declaration of interests: Alasdair Morgan declared that he had no relevant interests.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/233)

and agreed to make no recommendation in relation to the instrument.

3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to consider its work programme and evidence on food policy in private at its next meeting.

4. Rural housing inquiry The Committee took evidence from—

Stephen Vickers, Head of Rural Property, Buccleuch Estates;

Laurence Cox, Director of Technical Services, Eildon Housing Association;

Gerry Begg, Housing Strategy Manager, and Martin Wanless, Plans and Research Manager, Scottish Borders Council;

Graeme Donald, Chair, Scottish Borders Community Council Network;

David Weber, Strategic Accounts Manager, Scottish Water;

Angela Foss, Unit Manager (Galashiels), SEPA;

Andy Pearson, Managing Director, Tweed Homes;

Alan Thomson, Head of Community Affairs, Scottish Water;

Martin Marsden, Water Unit Manager, SEPA.

5. Budget process 2009-10 (Stage 2): The Committee agreed its approach to the scrutiny of the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2009-10.

6. Budget process 2009-10 (Stage 2) (in private): The Committee agreed a ranked list of candidates for appointment as adviser in connection with its Stage 2 scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s 2009-10 budget.

7. Rural housing inquiry (in private): The Committee reviewed the evidence heard earlier in the meeting. The Committee agreed to invite representatives from Scottish Power to give evidence as part of its inquiry. The Committee also agreed to request supplementary written evidence from Scottish Water.

The meeting closed at 12.56 pm.

Peter McGrath
Clerk to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Room T1.01
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 348 5240
Email: peter.mcgrath@scottish.parliament.uk