Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what the consequences will be for any local authority that does not have its short-term lets licensing scheme established by 1 October 2022. S6W-10437
Shona Robison: I have recently written to local authority Housing Conveners and Chief Executives to remind them of their duty to establish short-term let licensing schemes by 1 October 2022, and we continue to work with local authorities on implementation matters as they prepare to open licence schemes in their areas by this date.
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authority has requested an extension to the deadline for establishing a short-term lets licensing scheme by 1 October 2022, and what consideration has been given to any such request. S6W-10436
Shona Robison: No local authority has submitted a request seeking an extension to the deadline of 1 October for establishing short-term let licensing schemes in their area. Officials remain in regular dialogue with local authorities in the lead up to schemes opening.
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government which minister signed off the Island Communities Impact Assessment carried out as part of its consultation on proposals for the regulation of short-term lets, published on 10 December 2020. S6W-10498
Shona Robison: The Island Communities Impact Assessment did not require ministerial sign off however, it formed part of the 2020 Short-term Let Consultation Report which was signed off by Kevin Stewart who was the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.
S6W-10955: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 08/09/2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s statement to the Parliament on the Programme for Government, on 6 September 2022, that a proposed Housing Bill would “implement key policies on short-term lets”, whether this refers to enacted or new regulations on the matter.
Answered by Shona Robison: This refers to the level of fines for some short-term let licensing offences. When we were developing the short-term let licensing legislation in 2020 we consulted on the maximum level of fines for operating without a licence; breaching a licence condition; and for providing false information. Provisions for this will be included in a forthcoming Housing Bill.
S6W-11302: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 04/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-10436 and S6W-10437 by Shona Robison on 21 September 2022, and in light of Aberdeenshire Council’s short-term lets licensing consultation ending on 7 October 2022, after the deadline for establishing local schemes, what discussions have been held with Aberdeenshire Council regarding the timeline for implementation of such licensing; and what the repercussions are for any local authority that did not have its short-term lets licensing scheme established by 1 October 2022.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 01/11/2022
S6W-11301: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 04/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-10436 and S6W-10437 by Shona Robison on 21 September 2022, how many local authorities have indicated that they were not in a position to establish their short-term lets licensing scheme by 1 October 2022.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 01/11/2022
S6W-11303: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 04/10/2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-10436 and S6W-10437 by Shona Robison on 21 September 2022, and in light of the Report to Aberdeenshire Council’s Business Services’ Licensing Sub-Committee of 2 September 2022 under item six, paragraph 3.8.1, whether it can confirm that licensing officers from Aberdeenshire Council told the Scottish Government that it would not be possible to establish the short-term lets licensing scheme by 1 October 2022; and what its response is to the comment in the report regarding this deadline that “other Scottish Licensing Authorities are in the same position as Aberdeenshire Council”.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 01/11/2022