Hansard

The Convener (Karen Whitefield): Lab

I open the 23rd meeting of the Communities Committee in 2006 and remind everyone present that mobile phones should be turned off. The only item on today's ag...

Before section 3

The Convener: Lab

Amendment 175, in the name of Patrick Harvie, is grouped with amendment 124.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): Green

Amendment 175 would extend the sustainable development duty that is already present in the earlier sections of the bill in relation to the national planning ...

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): LD

Amendment 124 covers two points: first, existing buildings for which better insulation or a microrenewable energy scheme is sought; and secondly, energy effi...

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I have a question for Donald Gorrie, which the minister will perhaps also pick up on. I am sympathetic towards amendment 124, but I would like to know what D...

The Convener: Lab

Dave Petrie, do you wish to contribute?

Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Con

No—I was just chewing my pen.

The Convener: Lab

I am sorry—I thought that you were indicating an interest in the debate. I invite Mr Gorrie to respond to the specific points that Christine Grahame raised.

Donald Gorrie: LD

This is one of those times when I have to cop out. I do not think that the law can contain something precise enough to cover every area. It would be up to th...

The Deputy Minister for Communities (Johann Lamont): Lab

Patrick Harvie's amendment 175 seeks to introduce a further sustainable development duty into the bill, covering the whole of part 3. The existing sustainabl...

Patrick Harvie: Green

Two points were raised on amendment 175. The first was that there is perhaps a lack of clarity over what a contribution to sustainable development really mea...

The Convener: Lab

The question is, that amendment 175 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

The Convener: Lab

There will be a division.

ForHarvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)AgainstBarrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)Grahame, Christine (South of ...

The Convener: Lab

The result of the division is: For 1, Against 8, Abstentions 0.

Amendment 175 disagreed to.

Section 3—Meaning of "development"

The Convener: Lab

Amendment 176, in the name of John Farquhar Munro, is grouped with amendment 177.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): LD

Thank you, convener, and good morning.I lodged amendment 176 in the hope that it would give more control to every local authority. All developments, both lar...

Dave Petrie: Con

Have you discussed the amendment with the Crown Estate commissioners and, if so, what was the reaction?

John Farquhar Munro: LD

Not directly, but I know that local authorities have been campaigning for many years to have control of the seabed adjacent to the coastline. For instance, H...

Dave Petrie: Con

But would it not be another burden on local authorities?

The Convener: Lab

Excuse me, this is not a debate. If we have time, I will allow Dave Petrie to contribute again.

Dave Petrie: Con

Thank you.

John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): Lab

I have sympathy with what John Farquhar Munro is proposing. He is right that development on the seabed adjacent to the coast is subject to control not by loc...

The Convener: Lab

Mr Petrie, I am going to allow you to make your other point, and Mr Farquhar Munro can respond to it when he winds up the debate.

Dave Petrie: Con

Thank you, convener.I just wanted to make a point about how local authorities are already stretched and could be further stretched by the bill. If the amendm...

John Farquhar Munro: LD

No, I think that—