Local Government and Communities Committee

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 8 in private. 2. Subordinate legislation: Parts 2, 3 and 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015: The Committee will take evidence from— Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, David Milne, Community Planning and Empowerment Unit, Ian Turner, Community Planning and Empowerment Unit, and Jean Waddie, Community Planning and Empowerment Unit, Scottish Government. 3. Subordinate legislation: Kevin Stewart (Minister for Local Government and Housing) to move— S5M-02700—That the Local Government and Communities Committee recommends that the Asset Transfer Request (Designation of Relevant Authority) (Scotland) Order 2017 [draft] be approved. 4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments— The Asset Transfer Request (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/357); The Asset Transfer Request (Review Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/358); The Asset Transfer Request (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/359); The Asset Transfer Request (Appeal Where No Contract Concluded) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/360); The Asset Transfer Request (Designation of Community Transfer Bodies) (Scotland) Order 2016 (SSI 2016/361); The Community Empowerment (Registers of Land) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/362); The Community Planning (Locality Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/364). 5. Payments to returning officers in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from— Malcolm Burr, Chair, SOLACE Scotland; Mary Pitcaithly, Convener, Electoral Management Board for Scotland; Annemarie O'Donnell, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Council; Andy Hunter, Chair, Scotland and Northern Ireland Branch, Association of Electoral Administrators; Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance, Electoral Commission, Scotland. 6. Consideration of evidence (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard at agenda item 2. 7. Consideration of evidence (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard at agenda item 5. 8. Scottish local government elections and voting: The Committee will consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government.