Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4, 5, 6 and 7 in private. 2. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence: The Committee will take evidence on the Local Culture Scotland report as part of its scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027-28 from— Matt Baker, Artist and Author of Local Culture Scotland report. Pauline Smith, Chief Executive, Development Trusts Association Scotland. Kate Wimpress, Director, North Edinburgh Arts. 3. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence: The Committee will take evidence as part of its scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027-28 from— Councillor Maureen Chalmers, Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Matthew Sweeney, Chief Officer - Communities, COSLA, Lynda Campbell, Head of Business & Strategy at Glasgow Life, on behalf of Community Leisure UK. 4. Pre-Budget scrutiny – evidence review: The Committee will consider the evidence heard under agenda items 2 and 3. 5. Pre-Budget scrutiny – upcoming evidence sessions: The Committee will consider lines of questioning for future evidence sessions with Creative Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic. 6. Pre-Budget scrutiny – written evidence: The Committee will consider the written evidence received as part of its scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2027-28. 7. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.