January 2023

PQs on Impact on Public Resources

Posted on January 31, 2023February 21, 2023 by Fiona Campbell

The following Parliamentary Questions have been asked of the Scottish Government in light of new licensing legislation.

S6W-14444: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27/01/2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much each fit and proper person test, carried out by Police Scotland as part of short-term let licensing applications, costs the service.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 10/02/2023

S6W-14275: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24/01/2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much each fire safety check carried out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as part of short-term let licensing applications costs the service.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 07/02/2023

Badenoch and Strathspey Short-term Secondary Let Control Area Planning Policy Consultation

Posted on January 30, 2023February 21, 2023 by Fiona Campbell

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to Highland Council on their short-term secondary let control area consultation for Badenoch and Strathspey.

As the main trade association for the self-catering sector in Scotland, representing over 1,700 members, we hope that our expertise and insight can help inform any regulations taken forward. We have always strived to work collaboratively with both local and national government stakeholders to ensure a balanced and proportionate outcome for all; and this is what we intend to do with Highland Council.

We strongly contend that this proposed planning policy is disproportionate and over-reaching. Instead, the ASSC asserts that planning policies should be:

Proportionate in nature, balanced, and rely on a firm evidence base;
Appreciate tourism related economy at a time when it should be supported to recover, and understand that short-term lets are a key source of accommodation that is imperative to the viability of local communities and international events; and
Consider the economic impact of any planning policy, which will cost jobs and livelihoods in a sector that provides a £867m boost to the Scottish economy and is worth £211m to the Highlands.

Download the ASSC’s consultation response: The Highland Council Badenoch and Strathspey Short-term Secondary Let Control Area Planning Policy Consultation

Comments must be submitted in writing no later than 3rd February 2023. Take part here.

Short-Term Let PQs

Posted on January 26, 2023February 21, 2023 by Fiona Campbell

S6W-13881: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/01/2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) short-term lets sector and (b) hospitality sector about whether 12 months is an excessive amount of time for local authorities to process short-term lets applications, and whether there are plans to reduce this timescale.

Answered by Shona Robison: Our 2021 consultation included draft guidance explaining the rationale for licence application determination times. Licensing authorities only have 12 months to determine applications made by existing hosts (those operational before 1 October 2022) during the transitional period. This is to support licensing authorities to manage the initial volume of applications they receive. During this transitional period, existing hosts are able to continue operating whilst their application is being determined.

For new hosts (those commencing operation on or after 1 October 2022), the usual 9 month determination time set out in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 applies. We understand many local authorities are prioritising these applications to provide new hosts with a timely outcome. We have no plans to alter either timescale, however, as we have already indicated, we will conduct a review of the scheme in early 2024.

S6W-13880: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/01/2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff in each local authority are working on processing short-term lets licensing and applications.

Answered by Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires local authorities to establish and run licensing schemes for short-term lets in their areas. Information on staffing levels dedicated to short-term let licensing within each local authority will be held by individual local authorities, and vary based on a number of factors, including volume of activity and approach to physical property inspections.

S6W-13878: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/01/2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications local authorities have received for short-term lets licences, and how many have been (a) approved and (b) rejected.

Answered by Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12707 on 12 December 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers