Category: Regulations
PQ: Pressure on Police Scotland
S6W-13278: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15/12/2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Police Scotland which have resulted in a delay in implementing the short-term lets legislation.
Answered by Shona Robison: There have been no discussions with Police Scotland which have resulted in a delay to implementing the short-term lets licensing scheme.
During 2022 officials have engaged regularly with licensing authorities and partners, including Police Scotland, to prepare for the start of short-term let licensing on 1 October 2022. Police Scotland is now completing fit and proper person checks as part of the process undertaken by licensing authorities to determine licensing applications from new and existing short-term let hosts. Although resourcing is a matter for Police Scotland to consider, they have been planning this for some time and we remain engaged to support this element of the scheme.
In recognition of the wider cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses, we have announced that we will introduce legislation in January 2023 to extend the deadline for existing hosts to apply for a licence from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023.
This is not a pause and we encourage hosts to keep applying throughout this period.
S6W-13279: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15/12/2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the capacity of the police to process short-term lets applications.
Answered by Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13278 on 12 January 2023. 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
National Planning Framework 4
During the debate on the NPF4 following the Minister’s statement yesterday, Alexander Stewart MSP mentioned the ASSC’s submission during his contribution:
“We can all agree that principles such as ensuring a just transition, promoting local living and revitalising rural communities fully deserve to be placed at the centre of this important framework. Indeed, given the importance of NPF4, it is perhaps disappointing that stakeholders were not given more time to fully scrutinise the proposals. Certain stakeholders, such as the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and Heads of Planning Scotland, have even suggested that the process has felt rushed. Planning authorities need clarity about the direction of NPF4, but it is important that stakeholders are fully involved at each stage of the process and that they are given enough time to fully reflect…
…I will touch on how the framework might affect small businesses, and particularly those in the tourism sector. The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers has pointed out that the traditional self-catering sector is already facing an increased burden due to the introduction of the short-term lets licensing scheme. Policy 30 and the further restrictions that it might impose on the sector risk adding a further regulatory burden. That is not where we want to be when we are trying to support small businesses.
In taking NPF4 forward, the Government must ensure that it carefully considers how policy 30 will work in practice and whether the self-catering sector will be able to properly thrive. Members on the Conservative benches have made it clear that NPF4 must be a framework that protects the interests of local communities. It must deliver on housing and on environmental and biodiversity goals, and it must achieve that while ensuring that businesses have the freedom that they need to fully prosper. They need to survive and thrive, and the framework should be there to ensure that they do that. However, certain areas in NPF4 are causing businesses real concern.”
Source: https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=14081