Petition PE875, Petition PE896 and Petition PE961 - Common Good

Papers relating to the Local Government and Transport Committee's consideration of Common Good Petitions PE875, PE896 and PE961 are ostensibly all contained on the Scottish Parliament Petition page but not all relevant documents are there and it is a bit confusing.

Here, we have provided annotated links to all the stages of the Committee's deliberations and all linked papers are hosted on this server so you don't need to worry about the links getting out of date.

Agenda papers and the Official Report have been edited to include only material relevant to the Common Good enquiry.
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First of all, the Petitions

PE875 - Petition by Mary E Mackenzie calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to ensure that all moveable and all heritable common good assets throughout Scotland are properly recorded, audited and insured and to introduce legislation to ensure such assets are properly safeguarded - Timeline of PE875.

PE896 - Petition by Ms Florence Boyle, on behalf of West Dunbartonshire Heritage Ltd. calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to require Local Authorities to conduct structured and meaningful public consultation and appeals procedures with the local community before any disposal of listed buildings, common land or related endowments held in public ownership or trusteeship - Timeline of PE896.

PE961 - Petition by Sally Richardson calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to introduce legislation to provide greater protection and increased powers for local communities in respect of the ownership and use of common good land - Timeline of PE961.
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The above petitions were considered first of all by the Petitions Committee in 2005 who then passed the issue on to the Local Government and Transport Committee in 2006 who considered the issue in greater depth and concluded their investigations in March 2007.

Public Petitions Committee 5 October 2005 - Official Report
The first deliberations on Petition PE875

Public Petitions Committee 9 November 2005 - Official Report
The first deliberations on Petition PE896

Reponses from organisations invited by Public Petitions Committee to submit evidence on PE875 and PE986

Minister for FInance and Public Sector Reform - Tom McCabe (PE875)
Registers of Scotland (PE875)
Historic Scotland (PE875)
COSLA (PE875)
Audit Scotland (PE875)

Scott Sutherland, Finance and Central Services Department, Scottish Executive (PE896)
Historic Scotland (PE896)
Scottish Civic Trust (PE896)

Public Petitions Committee 19 April 2006 - Official Report
Further deliberations on PE875 and PE896 and on views of above consultees.

The Public Petitions Committee agreed to ask the Local Government and Transport Committee to examine the issue.

[Public Petitions - 17 May 2006 considered PE961 and agreed to include it with PE875 and PE896]


Local Government and Transport Committee 13 June 2006 - Agenda
Includes a paper from the Clerk (
LGT/S2/06/17/8) with a summary of the issues raised so far.

Local Government and Transport Committee 13 June 2006 - Official Report
The Committee discuss the Petitions and decide to take oral evidence from a range of witnesses.

Local Government and Transport Committee 14 November 2006 - Agenda
This includes a Briefing Paper from SPICE and the Committee Clerk, a written submission from Andy Wightman and a further written submission from Miss Mary E Mackenzie.

Local Government and Transport Committee 14 November 2006 - Official Report
Oral Evidence is heard from Andy Wightman, Miss Mary E Mackenzie (PE875), David Harvie (PE896) and Sally Richardson (PE961).

Following the 4 November meeting, all three petitioners submitted further evidence.

Further Written Submission by Miss Mary E Mackenzie
Further Submission by Miss Mary E Mackenzie - maps of Common Good Land in Peebles
Further Submission by Sally Richardson
Further Submission by David Harvie

Local Government and Transport Committee 21 November 2006 - Agenda
This includes written submissions from the
Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland and Audit Scotland

Local Government and Transport Committee 21 November 2006 - Official Report
Oral evidence is heard from
Andrew Fergusson, Fife Council, on behalf of Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland and June Murray, North Lanarkshire Council, on behalf of Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland

and then from

Caroline Gardner, Deputy Auditor General and Controller of Audit, Audit Scotland, Fiona Kordiak, Director of Audit Services, Local Government, Audit Scotland and Gordon Smail, Portfolio Manager, Local Government, Audit Scotland.

At the 21 November meeting, Audit Scotland agreed to provide further information on asset management.

Further Information from Audit Scotland

Local Government and Transport Committee 23 January 2007 - Agenda

Local Government and Transport Committee 23 January 2007 - Official Report
Oral evidence is heard from
George Lyon, Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, Hilary Pearce, Efficient Government Portfolio Manager, Scottish Executive and David Milne, Team Leader, Best Value and Performance, Scottish Executive.

Local Government and Transport Committee 13 February 2007 - Agenda
Includes a Paper from the Clerk summarising the process and evidence so far.

Local Government and Transport Committee 13 February 2007 - Official Report
Members of the Committee discuss the Clerk's Paper and their own views on the way forward. It is agreed that the Clerk will write a further Paper summarising the views of the Committee and that the Committee will write to the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform.

Letter written by Convenor of the Local government and transport Committee to George Lyon 20 February 2007
Annex to letter to George Lyon - a Paper outlining the Committee's views
This Annex is the same as the 2nd part of the Clerk's Paper of 13 February - Issues Raised in Evidence

Local Government and transport Committee 27 March 2007 - Agenda
This includes a Paper by the Clerk and additional references are made to: -

A letter of reply from George Lyon, Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform to the Committee Convenor.
Letter written by David Milne on behalf of George Lyon, Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, to Scottish Local Authorities

Local Government and Transport Committee 27 March 2007 - Official Report
Members discuss the evidence and the response of the Scottish Executive and conclude their deliberations on the Petitions.