The Scottish Government is not doing enough to engage the public on climate change and Scotland’s climate change targets.
This is the collective view expressed in a report published yesterday by 23 members of the public, selected at random from across Scotland, who recently came together at Holyrood to form a ‘Climate Change People’s Panel’.
The panel was set up to support Holyrood’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee in its post-legislative scrutiny of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The Act mandates that the Scottish Government should produce and periodically review a public engagement strategy for climate change.
The panel’s report concludes that the Government has not communicated effectively with the public on climate change saying that it “could be more ambitious, delivering a positive narrative and enabling Scotland to set a standard of excellence.”
The panel also considered that “collaboration with expert local and community led organisations is key” and that there is an “inconsistency in communication, education, evaluation, the allocation of funding and ultimately, that there is an action gap across Scotland.”
The report outlines 18 recommendations which panellists will formally present to the Committee during a broadcast evidence session on Tuesday 16 April 2024.
Panellist Kevin Roarty, an Analyst Programmer living in Paisley said of his experience; “This has been a fantastic experience but at the heart of it all is the most serious topic.
“We felt that there needs to be more truth and honesty from the Scottish Government about the scale of the challenge, and that creating a more compelling vision of the better world we’re all aiming for would help.
“We hope the Committee will accept our recommendations as positive, concrete actions that must be taken forward and that our efforts will make a positive difference to national engagement on climate issues.”
In the report, panellists unanimously recommend, for example, that: –
Climate change should exist as a compulsory subject within the primary to high school curriculum and children should be involved in its development as a subject.
Robust, timely and longer-term funding (minimum 3-5 years) should be provided to help expand and adequately resource climate hubs.
There needs to be a legal obligation on all local authorities to co-create local climate policy, supported by funding from the Scottish Government.
Edward Mountain MSP, Convener of the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee, said; “This report identifies the need for the Scottish Government to lead from the front to bring governments, business, and the public together in a mutual understanding of the shared challenge we all face and the actions that need to be taken to effect change.
“Just last month the Climate Change Committee said that Scotland’s 2030 climate goals are no longer credible. Collaboration on all levels of society will be essential to help drive action forward.
“We look forward to taking evidence from the panellists during next week’s committee meeting and exploring their findings further with them.”
Charity warns rising rents and pensioner poverty could be ‘catastrophic’ for older Scottish renters
1 in 7 pensioners in Scotland (150,000) are in poverty, and over half (75,448) of those are renters
New research finds that just 30% of older renters feel fully informed of their housing rights
Older private renters in Scotland are plagued with damp, unsafe and unaffordable homes
Charity calls for the Scottish Government to ensure affordable rents, that tenants’ rights are upheld and rented homes are maintained to a decent living standard
Older Scottish renters living on a low income urgently need greater protections in the upcoming Housing Bill, says Independent Age, the charity supporting older people in poverty.
It says that renters in later life face a “catastrophe” if action is not taken, with record rent increases in recent years and a growing number of older renters across the nation being pushed into poverty.
The organisation today launches its report Homing in: How to improve the lives of older Scottish renters, which uses polling, Government data and a survey of over 500 older renters to understand the reality of renting in later life in Scotland.
Almost two in five (39%) older Scottish private renters now live in poverty, up from 24% a decade before1. Independent Age says that older renters on a low income are “terrified” their rent could rise after the end of the current rent rise cap on March 31st.
The new report has unearthed older tenants’ daily challenges with affordability, the threat of eviction and poor standards. The charity found that less than a third of older renters (30%) feel fully informed of their housing rights while a shocking one in five (21%) saying they know nothing2.Independent Age believes that this worryingly low level of awareness among tenants of their rights in the private rental sector is leaving poor and sometimes unlawful practice unchallenged.
The charity calls on the Scottish Government to ensure:
Private rents are controlled at an affordable level for older people on a low income.
Landlords are required to inform tenants of independent housing advice services when they serve them notice.
A housing ombudsman is established, giving private tenants the ability to challenge issues like poor maintenance.
Tenants are informed of their rights as renters.
Affordability
In Scotland, almost two in five (39%) older private renters live in poverty3, while more than a quarter (28%) of those surveyed say they have less than £200 disposable income a month after paying rent. In the last year, over 4 in 5 (81%) say they have faced a rise in rent of up to £50 a month.
With the temporary limit to rent increases set to end next month, the charity has heard from older people who, faced with increasing costs from all angles, including rent, Council Tax and energy, are struggling to pay their rent.
An older person who is looking for a new property to rent told the charity: “it is really scary how much starting rents have increased in the last six months”.
Independent Age warned that without action to ensure housing affordability in the private rented sector, more older tenants across Scotland will be forced to make difficult decisions such as making further cutbacks to food, energy and water to cover rent.
Housing quality and standards
65% of older Scottish peoples’ homes are in a state of disrepair4. Independent Age’s survey found that 40% of older private renters were not satisfied with the standard or quality of their home5, however polling found that more than 1 in 10 (12%) older private renters questioned feel uncomfortable raising concerns with their landlord, for fear of negative treatment.
Independent Age says that problems with damp, heating and energy efficiency come up frequently for older renters. One older person said that their house was “never warm… there is a smell of damp in the winter months. There is a huge opening in the back wall where the boiler is located. The wind whistles into the flat.” Another said that their home was cold “even in the summer.”
The charity said that not only are some of the conditions described by interviewees likely in violation of the Repair Standard that sets out a minimum standard that rental properties must meet, but tenants are scared to ask for necessary and reasonable repairs in case they are served with a ‘revenge eviction’. One man said: “I know if I complain to my landlord, it will get me nowhere but homeless.”
Evictions and homelessness
The report reveals that almost one in six (17%) older private renters are worried that their landlord will evict them in the next 12 months.
Almost three in five (59%) say that searching for a new home would be difficult6, likely due to older people sometimes needing special adaptations, such as a ground floor flat, and the growing unaffordability of rents.
Terrifyingly, there has been a 23% rise in the number of older people experiencing homelessness in the last year, up from 891 people in 2021/22 to 1100 in 2022/23.
Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Agesaid: “For all of us, an affordable, safe and secure home is essential for our wellbeing and should be the norm. That’s why it is a catastrophe that, for many Scottish older renters on a low income, this is far from the reality.
“The Scottish Government made positive moves in recent years to protect tenants. But with many of these protections from eviction and rent increases coming to an end soon, we’ve spoken to many people renting in later life who are absolutely terrified about what will happen over the coming months.
“The Housing Bill is a once in a generation opportunity for the Scottish Government to make sure everyone has a home that is affordable, kept to a decent standard and free from the threat of eviction and homelessness.
“We hope they take action to ensure that all Scottish renters can live with dignity, no matter their age.”
Recommendations
Independent Age is calling for the Scottish Government to:
Establish a housing ombudsman to give tenants the power to challenge their landlords on poor maintenance and ensure that housing advice and advocacy services are accessible and properly funded so renters are aware of their rights.
Introduce a permanent system of rent controls so homes are affordable for older people on a low income, commit to building more social housing and increase access to, and funding of, Discretionary Housing Payments that support those on Housing Benefit who have a rent shortfall.
Ensure tenants, including those in later life on a low income, are informed of their rights.
Enshrine the right to adequate housing in Scots Law
Place a duty on local authorities to help someone threatened with homelessness in the next six months and require landlords to inform tenants of independent advice services before or when they serve them an eviction notice.
Independent Age is also calling on the UK Government to commit to uprating Local Housing Allowance every year so that Housing Benefit matches rises in local rents.
Proposals to reform how legal services are regulated in Scotland have been backed by a majority of MSPs on Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill sets out a modernised regulatory framework, which any firm that provides legal services in Scotland would be subject to. The Bill also reforms how complaints about legal firms are handled.
Evidence presented to the Committee showed that consumer groups, including Consumer Scotland, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission’s Consumer Panel, broadly welcomed the proposals to modernise the regulatory framework. The groups told the Committee that the changes could address some of the difficulties consumers face in accessing and affording legal services.
However, the Committee also heard criticism of these proposals from the Senators of the College of Justice, Faculty of Advocates and Law Society of Scotland, who told the Committee that the current model of regulation was effective and independent.
The Committee’s report concludes, by majority, that the need to not further delay the reforms, alongside promised amendments to the proposals from the Scottish Government, outweighs the concerns that were raised.
The report calls on the Scottish Government to carry out further work on the Bill, including ensuring that the existence of two categories of regulator does not add to complexity for consumers and requests that the complaints process be further simplified.
The Committee would also like the Scottish Government to support the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in developing a process so that complaints without merit can be quickly addressed.
Commenting on the findings, Kaukab Stewart, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said:“During our scrutiny, we heard many strong views, particularly around the proposals to establish an independent regulator of the profession.
“Everyone on the Committee accepts that reform of the regulatory framework is long overdue and accepts that the current complaints process must be simplified.
“However, we are also aware of several significant issues with the Bill which must be resolved to ensure that the independence and efficacy of Scotland’s legal system is not undermined. The Scottish Government has sought to reassure us that it will introduce amendments to resolve these concerns.
“On balance, a majority of the Committee accept these reassurances and recommend that the Parliament should agree to the general principles of the Bill in order that we can review the amendments and not further delay these important reforms.”
Three Committee Members, Meghan Gallagher MSP, Paul O’Kane MSP and Annie Wells MSP, dissented from the report’s recommendation on the general principles of the Bill.
No change in Scotland’s house price over last twelve months
· East Renfrewshire prices rise by 12.0%
· Dumfries and Galloway prices fall by -5.4%
· Transactions down by 12.3% on 2022 levels
Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments: “At a national level, the picture this month shows Scotland’s average house price in November 2023 barely changed over the last year. However, it also reveals some significant regional differences in average house prices over the same period.
“This is remarkable when you consider the affordability pressures experienced by the housing market since the autumn of ’22. The average house price now is just -£16 lower than twelve months earlier and stands at £222,637.
“The reality is that regional hotspots like East Renfrewshire which enjoyed price gains of 12% during the period have been offset by dips elsewhere, such as Dumfries and Galloway which has endured a fall of -5.4%.
“We have also seen variance in property types. Over the last year, the average price of detached properties has increased by +1.2%, and flats by +0.5%, while semi-detached and terraced properties have fallen by -1.8% and -0.9% respectively.
“With underlying trends such as mortgage affordability improving now, more buyers will re-enter the market providing competition for the cash purchasers, who currently represent 36% of all sales in Scotland, which will further boost confidence.”
House Price
Index
Monthly Change %
Annual Change %
£222,637
291.6
-0.3
0.0
Table 1. Average House Prices in Scotland for the period November 2022 – November 2023
(The prices are end-month smoothed over a 3 month period)
Month
Year
House Price
Index
Monthly Change %
Annual Change %
November
2022
£222,653
291.6
0.1
6.7
December
2022
£222,399
291.3
-0.1
6.5
January
2023
£221,162
289.7
-0.6
4.5
February
2023
£219,827
287.9
-0.6
2.9
March
2023
£219,531
287.5
-0.1
1.3
April
2023
£221,173
289.7
0.7
1.5
May
2023
£223,391
292.6
1.0
1.6
June
2023
£223,831
293.2
0.2
1.4
July
2023
£223,308
292.5
-0.2
0.5
August
2023
£223,079
292.2
-0.1
0.4
September
2023
£223,803
293.1
0.3
0.7
October
2023
£223,403
292.6
-0.2
0.5
November
2023
£222,637
291.6
-0.3
0.0
Note: The Walker Fraser Steele Acadata House Price Index (Scotland) provides the “average of all prices paid for houses”, including those made with cash.
Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst
November’s housing market
Scotland’s average house price in November 2023 has barely changed over the last year, being just £16 lower than twelve months earlier, and now stands at £222,637. Looking at Table 1 above, it can be seen that for eight of the last twelve months, the average house price has been in a range between £222,400 and £223,830, with the peak occurring in June 2023.
However, referring to Table 2 (on page 4 of this report), there is only one local authority area where the annual rate of change in house prices is zero, which is Glasgow City.
All 31 other areas in Scotland will therefore have been seeing some movement in their average house prices over the previous twelve months. Excluding annual price changes in the range of ±1% only removes a further 4 authorities, leaving 27 authorities that have annual price movements in excess of ±1%.
Indeed, an annual rate of ±3.6% would need to be reached before excluding half of the 32 areas in Scotland. It would therefore be wrong to conclude that all of Scotland’s local housing markets have been static over the last twelve months – rather, the more correct conclusion is that “it just so happens” that when you add all the movements in house prices in Scotland together, they sum to minus £16.
A similar picture emerges when looking at property types – over the last year, the average price of detached properties has increased by +1.2%, and flats by +0.5%, while semi-detached and terraced properties have fallen by -1.8% and -0.9% respectively.
Again, the sum of these changes will amount to (minus) £16 – but that is by chance. There are however underlying trends, such as the level of interest rates (discussed later) and the increase in household living costs which will affect all properties, but even then, these factors don’t necessarily apply to all.
Cash purchasers, for example – who currently represent 36% of all sales in Scotland – may be less influenced by high interest rates, compared to having to take out a loan to purchase a property.
Figure 1.Scotland’s average house price for the period from March 2020 to November 2023
Figure 1 shows how average house prices in Scotland have changed since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.
It can be seen that the average price has barely moved over the twelve months from November 2022 to November 2023, although values have risen by £39,640 from March 2020. This increase of 21.7% over the period compares to a figure of 19.7% in the CPIH Index – so in real terms (after allowing for consumer price inflation) the average house price in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has risen by 2.0%.
Local Authority Analysis
Table 2. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing November 2022, October 2023 and November 2023
Table 2 shows average house prices, calculated on a seasonal- and mix-adjusted basis, by Local Authority Area, for November 2022 and October and November 2023, together with the corresponding percentage price changes over the last month and year.
The ranking figures are based on average house prices in November 2022 and 2023. Line items are shaded in blue in cases where average house prices in the Local Authority Area have experienced record highs in November 2023.
Annual change
The average house price in Scotland in November 2023 has fallen by a minimal £16, or 0.0%, over the last twelve months, which is 0.5% lower than the rate seen in October, one month earlier. This is the lowest annual growth rate since May 2016, some seven and a half years earlier.
14 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland were reporting a positive movement in prices over the previous twelve months, compared with 17 in October. However, as with the previous month, Edinburgh had the largest fall in prices over the year when measured on a weight-adjusted basis (which takes into account both the number of sales and the nominal fall in its average price of -£7,660), which on its own counterbalanced some 27% of the positive movement in values in the 14 areas with price gains.
In November, on the mainland, East Renfrewshire had the highest increase in its annual rate of price growth, at 12.0%, which enabled the authority to remain in top position in Table 2 for the third month running.
In fact, East Renfrewshire has occupied first place in Table 2 – indicating it has had the highest average property values – for six of the last twelve months, trumping the City of Edinburgh which has only been in first place for four months over this period. In East Renfrewshire, all property types have seen an increase in values over the last twelve months, but particularly semi-detached homes, with average prices rising from £300k in November 2022 to £350k twelve months later.
Staying on the mainland, Midlothian has the second-highest annual growth rate at 10.7%. Again, similar to East Renfrewshire, all property types have seen an increase in their average prices, but in Midlothian it is terraced properties that have had the most significant increase, up from an average £205k in November 2022 to £235k one year later.
At the other end of the scale, the area on the mainland with the largest percentage fall in prices over the last twelve months was Dumfries and Galloway, at -5.4%. In Dumfries and Galloway, all property types saw prices fall over the year, with the largest fall on a weight-adjusted basis being terraced homes, down from an average £140k in November 2022 to £125k one year later.
Monthly change
In November 2023, Scotland’s average house price fell by some -£750, or -0.3%, which contrasts with the revised -£400, or -0.2%, change in prices seen in October. This is the seventh monthly fall of 2023: however, as discussed above, it would appear that prices have been gently oscillating over the last eight months, with the average price ranging between £221,000 and £224,000.
In November 2023, 12 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced rising prices in the month, the same number as in October. The area with the highest increase in its average price in the month was Inverclyde, up by 6.0%, although it still remains the authority with the lowest-priced housing in Scotland. The increase in the area’s price in the month was assisted by the sale of a modern 2-bedroom apartment, in Cloch Road, Gourock, overlooking the Clyde estuary, for £350k.
By way of contrast, the area on the mainland with the largest monthly fall in its average price was Fife, down by -3.6%. All property types in Fife saw a fall in their average prices over the month, with the most significant fall in prices being semi-detached homes, down from £207k in October 2023 to £192k in November.
For interest, the highest-priced home to have been sold in Scotland in November was a £2.9 million five-bedroom detached home in Dirleton, North Berwick, East Lothian, overlooking The Renaissance Golf Club course and the Firth of Forth. Golf is a recurrent theme in the sale of high value homes.
Transactions analysis
Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period from January 2019 to November 2023, based on Registers of Scotland (RoS) figures for the Date of Entry (except for November 2023, which is based on RoS Application Dates).
The first year on the Chart, 2019 (light blue line), was relatively “normal” having an average 8,560 sales per month, some 2.1% higher than the total for 2018, but -0.3% lower than 2017.
As can be seen, 2020 (the turquoise line) was more varied, the Covid pandemic having manifested itself in March 2020, with the first lockdown taking place in April 2020, when the market slumped to just 2,637 sales.
There was then a slow path to recovery during the remainder of 2020 with a peak in transactions in October 2020 of 13,045 sales, as the benefit of the LBTT tax holiday and the mantras of the “race for space” and “work from home” came to the fore.
There was a second peak in transactions in March 2021 (the brown line), as purchasers scrambled to take advantage of the tax holiday, before its cessation on April 1st 2021.
In 2022 (the red line), house purchases returned to near normality, with the first nine months of 2022 seeing an average 8,600 sales per month. However, Liz Truss came into power on 6 September 2022, with her mini-budget, which resulted in the bank base rate being raised to 2.25%. The bank rate was further increased on 3rd November and 15th December 2022, ending the year at 3.5%.
Figure 2.The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date from 2019 – 2023
This brings us to the current year of 2023 (the black line) – the relatively high bank rate of 3.5% had an adverse effect on property transactions, with only 5,893 sales for January 2023 – the lowest January total since 2013. Although the housing market in 2023 did enjoy the spring bounce in transactions that occurs traditionally in March, the bank base rate was increased a further five times in 2023, reaching 5.25% on 3rd August 2023 (the current rate). Over the first eleven months of 2023, sales are down by 12.3% compared to the equivalent period in 2022.
Scotland transactions of £750k or higher
Table 3. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – November 2023
While 84% said they enjoy walking because it is good for their health, a significant increase from 78% in 2019, only just under a quarter (24%) had heard or seen messages on the health benefits of walking.
Dr Fiona Bull, Head of Physical Activity at the World Health Organisation (WHO), presented compelling evidence at Paths For All’s 2023 Expert Lecture, hosted in Stirling in November, on how walking can save lives, and how Scotland is leading the charge.
Dr Bull said: “Walking more regularly can contribute to saving lives and brings so many health benefits; but too often, walking is not being promoted enough.
“The work Paths for All has been doing to get more people active is incredible, bringing communities together and ensuring all have access to walking groups, as well as upgrading infrastructure, and educating the public.
“According to data released from Scotland, the country is bucking the trend, with collective action there has been a 7% increase in physical activity, and to see that nearly all Scots are walking for health benefits is commendable.”
In particular, Dr Bull shared the alarming health impact of physical inactivity accounting for between 3.2 – 5.1 million deaths a year and this is a conservative estimate. She also highlighted new data providing a global “price tag” for not acting to promote more people being more active – estimated at US$27 billion per year – totalling US$300 billion by 2030.
Dr Bull reinforced to the audience that walking is the best way to get more people of all ages doing more physical activity both in Scotland and globally. Examples of how cities are making communities more walkable were shared including the example of Vienna which created a Year of Walking – Dr Bull suggested Scotland would be well placed to borrow this idea.
According to the National Survey of Attitudes to Walking and Wheeling in Scotland, people with a long term physical condition or mental health problem were also significantly more likely to have encountered cars parked on the pavement, roads that were difficult to cross or poor maintained pavements (53%, 34% and 54% respectively).
Of those walking for short journeys, we found a desire to get fit, relax and unwind, and enjoyment to be the main motivations for people to get out and about.
Louise Bursle, Paths For All’s Communications and Marketing Manager, said more Scots clearly recognise walking’s physical and mental benefits: “The fact that so many people walk for exercise and relaxation highlights this. We’re keen to eliminate barriers to make frequent walking possible for everyone in Scotland to reap wellbeing rewards.
“As we enter a new year, many people will be setting resolutions to be more active, but you don’t need to make big commitments to see the benefits. Just adding a short walk to your daily routine will have an impact.”
To boost regular walking, over 7-in-10 Scottish adults also voiced support for 20-minute neighbourhoods, ensuring services are nearby. Delivering these communities could help more than 30% of Scots who currently do not walk to places like shops and public transport stops because distances are too far.
Louise said the findings reveal clear priorities for Scotland’s health: “By making streets more welcoming through improved lighting, seating, better surfaces, and amenities within reach, we can help fulfil people’s desire to integrate walking into their days – ultimately getting Scots moving together.“
We support the Scottish Health Walk Network, which facilitates over 850 regular Health Walks across Scotland, with more than 14,000 dedicated volunteers leading and assisting the groups.
As we kick off 2024, we’re continuing the valuable work in partnership with 30 national organisations with a shared vision of a healthier, happier, greener Scotland, where everyone can be active every day.
The creation of a new criminal offence of unauthorised entry to a football match and bolstering collaboration between UK and overseas police are among recommendations from MPs on how to improve safety at sporting events at both home and abroad.
Today’s report from the Culture Media and Sport Committee comes after its inquiry examining safety spectator issues following the disorder at Wembley at the Euro 2020 final and the chaotic scenes faced by Liverpool supporters caused by police failings at the Champions League final in Paris last year.
In a week when hundreds of thousands of fans will be attending football and other big sports fixtures, the Committee concludes that while sporting bodies have learned lessons from past disasters and improved stadiums and policing, sporting events are still not environments that ensure all fans are able to attend.
The disorder at Wembley in 2021 included instances of people without tickets attempting to enter the stadium using fakes, tailgating or through force. Warning that the lack of a distinct criminal penalty is allowing the practice to continue seemingly unchallenged, the Committee backs the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill introduced by committee member Kevin Brennan MP and urges the Government to ensure the legislation is passed.
The Bill would create an offence of unauthorised entry at football matches and allow a football banning order to be imposed on conviction.
The report also calls for the expansion of safe standing trials, for police and clubs to take the use of Class A drugs at sporting events more seriously, steps to monitor and tackle anti-social behaviour and discrimination and for measures to ensure stadiums are accessible for all.
On protecting fans abroad, the Committee describes as ‘disgraceful’ the treatment of Liverpool fans by French authorities at the 2022 Champions League final, with their approach worsened by attempts to blame Reds supporters.
Evidence received by the Committee suggests that the attitude of foreign police forces to British fans heavily contributed to the chaos. The report therefore recommends that the Government works with overseas counterparts to bolster the role of British police travelling with fans and their collaboration with local forces.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the CMS Committee, said: “Fans flocking to festive fixtures at this time of year should be able to enjoy time with family and friends in sports grounds that are secure, inclusive and welcoming environments.
“Sadly, the rise in disorder at football post-pandemic and near disasters that occurred at Wembley and in Paris have shown there is much to be done to ensure a safe time for all. The Government, police, clubs and governing bodies all have a role to play.
“Tailgating and other forms of unauthorised entry into grounds are an increasing problem at high-profile matches putting safety at risk from overcrowding. Those involved should know that they will face consequences and the Government should back legislation to ensure they can be banned.
“At big games in Europe, too often the attitude of foreign police to British fans leads to unacceptable treatment of innocent supporters. The Government needs to work with overseas counterparts to bolster the role of British police travelling with teams and collaboration with local forces.”
Main conclusions and recommendations
Protecting fans abroad
The treatment of Liverpool fans by French authorities at the 2022 Champions League final was disgraceful and worsened by attempts of the authorities and UEFA to blame the supporters. The attitude of foreign police forces to UK football fans heavily contributed to the chaos.
The Government should work to foster improved relationships with other governments on policing sporting events in order to bolster the role of British police travelling with UK teams and their collaboration with local forces.
Policing
The unauthorised entry of ticketless individuals at football matches creates a risk to their safety and the safety of legitimate, paying fans. While such acts are likely already illegal, the lack of a distinct criminal penalty that includes the use of the proven deterrent of Football Banning Orders, is allowing this practice to continue seemingly unchallenged.
The Committee welcomes the introduction of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill and calls on the Government to ensure its passage into law during this session of Parliament.
Sporting bodies should increase their financial contribution to the safety of fans outside of the stadium.
The Government should work with police and sporting bodies to introduce a centralised system to report and record discrimination and antisocial behaviour at sporting events.
Alcohol and drug use at sporting events
The evidence available on the impact of alcohol on disorder at football matches does not provide a compelling case either for the status quo or for a significant relaxation of the current legislation.
The Government’s review of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985, alongside a responsible alcohol sale pilot scheme, provides an opportunity for comprehensive evidence gathering.
The Government should consult with other sporting bodies and also ensure that the alcohol sale pilots are undertaken alongside the Committee’s recommended improved reporting of hate crime and antisocial behaviour to ensure the impacts are fully understood before any further decisions are taken.
The increasing use of Class A drugs at sporting events is something that police and clubs should both be taking more seriously. It is unclear whether the use of Football Banning Orders for Class A drugs provides an adequate deterrent.
Further work is needed by the police to understand the prevalence of drug supply and possession.
Stewarding
Stewards should not be seen merely as volunteers or fans who get to see the game for free. They are crucial to the safety of all sporting events and their responsibilities have grown over the years. The resources available to all major UK sports should allow for the better treatment of stewards, including an appropriate wage.
Stewards, employers and fans would all benefit from clarity on the roles, responsibilities and standards for stewards. The Committee recommend that the Sports Ground Safety Authority should develop and publish minimum expectations for stewarding standards in consultation with all those involved in major sporting events.
The Government and SGSA should work with sporting bodies to establish a central training fund, with contributions from sporting leagues being tied to their revenue.
Stadium management
Local authorities should include a wider variety of perspectives in Safety Advisory Groups with efforts to reach demographic groups that have been previously disregarded.
As long as football clubs can prove that they have a comprehensive stewarding plan for safe standing and follow the licenced standing criteria from the SGSA Further safe standing pilots should be encouraged.
Poor stadium design raises fundamental issues around equality, diversity and inclusion that are not being fulfilled to an acceptable level by the design of spaces intended for use by fans. Being unable to accommodate women and disabled fans in an appropriate way sends the message that they are not welcome and undermines their safety, security and dignity when attending matches.
The SGSA should update its Green Guide with a requirement for new and redeveloped stadia to better accommodate all fans, including women and disabled people.
‘potential to be a positive force for the tourism sector’
The majority of members on the Holyrood Committee considering the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill have supported the general principles behind the legislation, which would allow Scottish local authorities to introduce an overnight accommodation levy, following extensive consultation.
Publishing its Stage 1 Report today, the Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee said that a majority of members of the Committee support the general principles of the Bill and a majority of members again found that it was “unlikely that the introduction of a levy in certain local authority areas, assuming a relatively modest rate, would have a deterrent effect on visitor numbers and therefore on the visitor economy in Scotland.”
Conservative MSPsMiles Briggs and Pam Gosal did not support several of the report’s conclusions or the general principles behind the Bill.
A majority of members however agreed with evidence from stakeholders which suggested the introduction of a levy has “the potential to bring significant benefits to visitors, the tourism sector and local residents” whilst recognising that not all of Scotland’s local authorities are expected to introduce a levy and therefore benefit directly from the Bill.
Supporting the Bill’s provision to give local authorities the ability to choose whether to introduce a levy and how to apply it locally, a majority of members of the Committee welcome “the degree of flexibility” provided and believe that this will allow councils to “design and implement it in a way that suits local circumstances.”
The Committee also recognised business concerns around the timing of the legislation, following the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s tourism sector and the increased costs of doing business, as well as recent changes to short-term lets licensing.
The Report also said the Committee was “mindful of the concerns of accommodation providers that the introduction of a levy could result in an additional administrative burden” and welcomed the Bill’s requirements to implement localised monitoring and reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
Considering if any levy should be a flat or percentage rate, the Committee considered this was “perhaps the most difficult aspect of the Bill in terms of determining what the right approach should be” and invited the Scottish Government to undertake further work on this area of the Bill to find a suitable solution.
The majority of members of the Committee agreed that “meaningful consultation with the tourism and accommodation sector to create a genuine sense of partnership working” would “help alleviate the concerns of many in the sector” and show that a levy should bring “long-term benefits” by improving the experience of visitors to areas where a levy is applied.
The earliest date a visitor levy could be applied by local authorities is 2026, which a majority of members of the Committee considered would provide enough time for any “outstanding issues to be resolved through engagement and consultation” with businesses and other key stakeholders.
However, the Committee also invited the Scottish Government to respond to suggestions from some councils that they should be able to introduce a levy sooner than 2026.
Commenting, Committee Convener, Ariane Burgess MSP said:“In supporting the Visitor Levy Bill at Stage 1, a majority of the members of the Committee recognise its potential to positively impact Scotland’s tourism sector.
“After thorough consultation and consideration, most members of the Committee have supported the core principles of the legislation, emphasising that a well-designed levy, at a modest rate, shouldn’t discourage visitors and should bring benefits for the tourism sector.
“A majority of the members of the Committee welcomed and support the flexibility provided by the Bill, which will enable local authorities to customise the levy’s implementation meaning that local levies are designed to suit local circumstances.
“Understanding concerns from businesses and being mindful of possible administrative burdens, a majority of members of the Committee believe that industry worries can be resolved through constructive engagement and consultation at the local level, ahead of any levy being introduced in 2026.
“For the majority of the members of the Committee the Visitor Levy Bill has the potential to be a positive force for the tourism sector, and thank the individuals, organisations and other stakeholders who provided evidence to inform this report.”
Nearly a quarter of Scottish councils warn of effective bankruptcy
EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL plans cuts to services, affecting millions of residents
New research out today from Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) Scotland reveals that nearly a quarter of Scottish councils fear they will not be able to balance their budgets in the 2024/25 financial year.
This is despite the fact that every single council in Scotland plans to cut spending on services in the next financial year, with around two-thirds of respondents cutting spending on education, parks and leisure, and business support.
Alongside planned cuts, nearly all (97%) said that they would be increasing fees and charges, and nine in ten (89%) that they would be spending reserves.
The first annual LGIU State of Local Government Finance in Scotland survey, found more than three quarters of respondents (76%) believe these cuts will be evident to the public.
Had it not been for the Scottish Government decision to unilaterally declare a council tax freeze, every council would have raised council tax, most often by a significant amount. The proposed council tax freeze has contributed to an increasingly poor relationship between Scottish Government and local government.
The current state of the economy, manifested in high rates of inflation, affects wages, utilities and food, thus making service provision even more expensive for councils and was considered to be a problem by every respondent who answered. The associated cost of living crisis – which puts additional demand on services – was also considered to be a problem by over 90% of respondents.
There was widespread agreement on the most pressing issues in council finances: in addition to inflation, ring-fencing, staff recruitment, cost of living crisis and pressures linked to demographic change were all considered to be problems by more than 90% of respondents.
Adult social care and children’s services were considered the greatest shortest-term pressures on council finances, and adult social care by far the greatest long-term pressure.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU Scotland,said: “Councils in Scotland are raising a red flag that council finances are completely unsustainable. With nearly a quarter of councils warning they may be unable to fulfil their statutory duties, it is only a matter of time before we see the first council in Scotland declare effective bankruptcy.
“Councils are pulling every lever available to them to balance their books. Every respondent said they were cutting spending on services, 97% that they would be increasing fees and charges, 89% that they would be spending reserves. But it is not enough. Councils have little to no confidence in local government finance and the issues behind the crisis are not going away.
“Scottish Government must work productively with councils to restore trust, remove ring fencing, identify revenue streams and reform core funding for councils to ensure residents, and particularly the most vulnerable in communities, are able to access the services they need and pay for.”
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has published a report relating to an unannounced follow-up inspection visit to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian. The inspection took place in September 2023.
The purpose of the follow-up inspection was to assess progress and provide assurance on NHS Lothian’s improvement actions in response to serious patient safety concerns that were identified and escalated during a previous inspection of the hospital in February 2023.
To provide assurance of improvement following the concerns previously identified, the main focus of the follow-up inspection was the emergency department. Inspectors also visited a number of wards and the medical assessment unit.
Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: ““Serious concerns raised in our previous inspection related specifically to the safe delivery of care and to potential patient safety risks. During this follow-up inspection we observed that considerable progress has been made in responding to these concerns.
“The delivery of fundamental care has improved with the addition of care and mealtime coordinators in the emergency department. Improvements have also been achieved in supporting patient care, dignity and leadership and in the coordination of care within the department.
“Implementation of a new continuous flow model has improved the flow of patients through the hospital during weekdays. However, further work is needed to support the timely flow of patients from the emergency department to an appropriate care area out of hours and at weekends.”
Six of the previous 13 requirements have now been met and progress has been made with four requirements, with further work to be undertaken.
Three requirements have not been met. These include hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment and the management of intravenous fluids.
One new additional requirement has been added with regard to the safe management of cleaning products. One new recommendation has been added in relation to the timeframes for the completion of significant adverse event reviews.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Lothian in order to meet the requirements.
The full inspection report is available to view at:
Research shows 50% spike in Scottish farmland market price
A REVEALING new report on land trends has brought fresh insights into the dynamics of rural land transactions in Scotland.
There is a notable upswing in the demand for farmland, with Eastern Scotland seeing £205,513,531 sold from 2020 to 2022.
Over the period spanning 2020 to 2022, the value of farmland witnessed a substantial uptick, surging by 58% in the North East and 42% in the South West of Scotland, indicative of a significant surge in market interest.
Published by the Scottish Land Commission (SLC), the Rural Land Market Report underscores a widespread appreciation in land values throughout Scotland, crediting this growth to sustained demand, even as the overall volume of land entering the market remained relatively stable.
The report also identifies that most sales were of moderately sized farms or forests, with over 93% of transactions taking place in Scotland for areas of land less than 500 hectares.
Hamish Trench, Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, said: “This report provides a vital window into the nature and scale of transactions occurring within Scotland’s rural land market over the past three years.
“The findings reinforce the conclusions of our earlier research, highlighting the range of influences affecting Scotland’s rural land market, and the significant regional and sectoral variations which clearly show increasing activity across the south of Scotland.
“While the volume of land coming to market has been relatively consistent over the past three years, the vast majority of sales are moderate-sized farms and forests, with very large land acquisitions much being rarer.”
The findings draw on data from the Registers of Scotland and the wider industry to evaluate the land market and property values across the country, focusing on farms, forests, and estates.
A total of 740 rural land sales took place over the three-year study period, of which 24 were for land over 1,000ha in size, and a further 27 for areas of between 500-1,000ha.
Farmland made up nearly 60% of total land sales. Eastern Scotland saw the highest concentration of deals, accounting for almost a third of national transactions while also having the top average prices per hectare at £17,535.
However, forestry land had a more mixed ride with prices peaking in 2021 before falling back again in 2022 – a move attributed to inflation and grant incentives no longer covering rising land costs.
The report highlights challenges around what is considered an “Estate” within the data, as a wide variety of transactions could fall into the category.
As a result, the report also notes a wide range in the sale prices of these “estates”, starting from as low as £60,000 and going up to £17.6 million over the three-year period.
Hamish added: “Through these reports, our commitment is to paint a clearer and more transparent picture of the rural land market, providing valuable insights to guide decisions on legal, policy, and practical changes.
“While we’ve successfully compiled a robust dataset, the report also underscores the necessity for ongoing reforms in how we collect and share data about land in Scotland.
“Transitioning towards a cadastral map system that consolidates information on land value, ownership, and use – a widely embraced approach in Europe – holds significant advantages. In the meantime, we will continue to work on how to make more of the existing data available.”
The report accompanies the Rural Land Market Insights Report published in May which identified the drivers and motivations influencing land sales and Acquisitions.
That report identified some key implications for public policy including a risk of increasing concentration in ownership, barriers to communities and individuals participating in the market and the risks where land is acquired primarily as a financial asset.
To read the Rural Land Market Report please visit:
