Good afternoon everyone. I'd like to call the order meeting of the city of Santa Rosa design review board on today, October 3rd First item of business is a roll call Patty Let the record reflect that all board members are present except for vice chair Hedgeman Thank You patty Next item is approval of the minutes has everyone had a chance to review the minutes and does anyone have any Changes corrections Adam I have one Comments on the Scheduled items the concept is energy for College Creek. I just wanted to amend the As I don't know which line it would be Sorry patty, but um where it says Consider unpaved space and lieu of a pool. I would like that to read consider Common space instead of just unpaved It's my my comment on that was to not just take out any any pavement But to make it into a common area for the tenants perspective tenants And that's all you got that patty Excellent any other comments Okay with that change we'll put them into record board business This is where we address the Public and let them know what our purview is as the design review board versus other boards or commissions in the city So I will read the design review board statement of purpose Project review the review authority shall consider the location design site plan Configuration and the overall effect of the proposed project upon surrounding properties and the city in general Review shall be conducted by comparing the proposed project to the general plan any a applicable specific plan applicable zoning code standards and requirements Consistency of the project within the city's design guidelines architectural criteria for special areas and other applicable city requirements I eat policy statements or development plans So that's purview of this board At this time, I'd like to open up for public comment on any items not on today's agenda But are in the purview of the design review board any members of the public wishing to speak on Anything not on the agenda today Seeing no one approach the microphone. I will close public comment Next item is statements of abstentions by board members any board members need to abstain from the item today seeing none We will move on to the scheduled item This is a modification to final design review the lodge at Piner Road 1980 Piner Road at file number DR19-044 and Susie Marie is here to give us a presentation One second you got it. I'm technically challenged here So just bear with us for a sec you and me both take about a three-minute recess here Okay, we'll get it straightened out. Yeah, three-minute recess and we'll straighten out the technical difficulties. Thank you Yes, I have a question. I know this is we're on recess right now. Sorry Give us a minute Chair concave looks like we might have a little bit more of a significant technical issue here so what we'd like to do if the chair of the board pleases is take a Five to ten minute break will print hard copies at the PowerPoint and then we'll do it the old-fashioned way We'll leave some copies up for the public and we'll give copies to each of the board members Sounds good. Let's go ahead and take a ten minute break just to make sure people don't have to rush around too much We're gonna call the meeting back to order. How about that? Thanks to city IT and patty for making hard copies, which we now don't need That's how it works once you finish the task. It's comes back online So We'll go ahead and restart with the staff presentation from Susie Murray Good afternoon again chair concave and board members the project before you is one that was before you earlier this year It's the lodge. It's a 92 unit senior Assisted care and memory care Living facility that was already approved back in January of this year On January 3rd the zoning administrator reviewed the conditional use permit It was a minor conditional use permit which locked in the site plan and then on this on later that day we brought the the facility itself before the the design review board and And it received design review Granted design review the property is located in the northwest quadrant of the city up Just just west of the corner of Marlowe and Piner Road Here's an aerial of the site. It's still just as empty as it was back then Excuse me the general plan land use for the area is It's actually a combination retail and business services and medium density residential It's also designated as a community shopping center and it allows for a mix of residential uses and commercial uses It's one of several parcels that make up that land use designation The zoning just as a refresher is general commercial which is consistent with the general plan land use the proposed modifications Include changes to the architecture paving inciting and planting materials the relocation Removal and addition I guess of landscape features and decorative features and change it and all the changes comply with the required development development standards Here's kind of side-by-side renderings the one the smaller one on the left is the approved Entry way and the one on the right is the proposed port-a-cache area and This is just a different perspective of the same area I'm going to kind of breeze through this is the proposed site plan But I'm really going to defer to the applicant who's going to explain the changes What was done to both the site plan and the elevations? so and my my Exhibits look just like theirs, so you'll see them again in a couple minutes This is This was included in your packets And it shows on the the top what was approved and on the bottom What what is being proposed on all four elevations starting here with the south and the west? Elevations and then we go to the north and the east elevations here And again, you'll have more time to look at these in just a couple of minutes The proposed landscape kind of focuses on let's see on the trees crepe myrtle and Columbia London plane tree And then they've got a larger mix of Shrubs Site features they've provided samples. I think the lighting is pretty much the same The fence may be a little bit taller around the wetlands area, and they propose some changes to the garbage enclosure So the project has been found as it was in January Category categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act As infill development and it also qualified for a streamlining measure as it's consistent with both zoning and the general plan We received one public comment, which was I believe forwarded to you pertaining to traffic That fell under the the previous review I Understand the concerns, but I it's something that was considered previously And that is not before the board tonight and or that it's the design of the building not the traffic impacts So with that it is recommended by the Planning and Economic Development Department that the design review board grant final design review for the Lodge a 92-bed memory care and assisted living facility located at 1980 Pine Road and That concludes my presentation, and I know the applicant has one for you great. Thanks, Suzy We'll take questions for staff first and I picked on Adam last night, so Drew I'm gonna start with you You have any questions for staff This may be a question for both staff in the app camp, but I'll just go ahead and ask it Suzy do you know if the primary driver for the adjustments were a building plan check or Because I mean they did reference the development standard So I'm wondering if something came out during building plan check that they had to adjust maybe they can answer that It did not from our end. It didn't yeah, all right. Thanks Thanks, Drew Henry questions for staff no questions Adam questions for staff No questions right now Rat questions for staff No questions Eric questions for staff, and I have no questions for staff. Thank you for the presentation Now I'd like to invite the applicant team up to make a presentation If you could remember to speak into the microphone and when you introduce yourself if you could tell us your both your name and your Relationship to the project that'd be appreciated. Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Aaron Clark with Lennarty architecture. Thank you Suzy for your presentation I'd like to thank the board and the chair for your time this evening such a precious resource so I Thank you for giving that to us today Very excited to present this project and the modifications that we've developed over the last six months With me tonight is the development team From Blue Mountain construction services. We have Gordon Stankowski. He's the director of construction We have Robert Moody who is the project manager We have Larry Cantrell who will be the site superintendent and We have Carlos del Rosario who is a project administrator. We have Also some design gurus We have Judy Stan Kausig Stan Kausig design consultant and interior designer Don in Lucia Donna Lucia, so If there is anything in regards to operations or construction I will bring them up as necessary to answering the questions that you have so The project we've been working with Blue Mountain for about six months they purchased the project at that time and drew hopefully this can answer your question at that time Ownership came to us and there were a series of interior programming elements that were not Copacetic with the actual Operators function of the building so essentially The design had to go through primarily it started as an interior design modification exercise Once we started there. We obviously The interior changes affected the exterior. We did research both on the Building code the function the side layout we did all our due diligence and We went through and Made these updates for that reason So I'd like to go through and present some of the changes to the project To the To the north on Piner Road We were looking essentially the site access has say has stayed essentially the same Along the front we eliminated some parking stalls and adjusted the Elevation we added more gables For the building code we had to add some EV parking now just to clarify in terms of schedule We are at the design ending to design development phase or moving into construction documents We have not submitted the building permit yet grading permit has been submitted We removed some decorative paving we modified the trash enclosure area We adjusted some parking stores just for Function but essentially the site access the fire access the wetlands the pedestrian path to the south The majority of the building has remained the same we removed some fencing in the rear we've Accommodated with landscape screening and storm planters and that will be shown on the landscape plan This is this is in the package that you presented and what we wanted to be very clear on is That the massing in the bulk of the project remained substantially in conformance with the previous project this is an exhibit of the first floor plan and It I'll get primarily on to the exterior elevations, but the the dining the entry sequence Everything was changed relatively fairly dramatically to make the program work Here's a upstairs floor plan with the memory care to the south in the roof plan Essentially and you'll notice from the elevations We kept the large forms and the gables very similar to the existing project It was more of massaging and refining the the project based on the interior elements so As you can see from the elevation looking at the north elevation We did go back and listen to the design review comments And we both saw the previous the very first design the second approved design that you're seeing on the top And we actually went through there was a comment in this area about having some symmetry and making sure that the windows are in alignment You'll notice that throughout the whole building We've been very particular to make sure that there is this window alignment You will notice the removal of storefront We did that because the building It's a commercial building, but it's when people approach the building. They want to feel like they're coming to a home not a Retail center, so we adjusted the windows to be more punctuated and Feel more residential You can see that we added gables We felt it appropriate as it's the large upon a road to add some gables and We went and followed through with a consistent design theme. You can see where there's stone. There's lap siding At the ends we have a consistent theme with stone and lap siding There was some trellises on the side of the building adjacent wargreens in the parking lot we decided to make the trellises a little bit more functional and on on the south On the south we've added shading devices and these trellises will both be function and there'll be aesthetic Of course, what's not showing here is the shadow effect that will occur on on these on these trellises You can tell the large the gable here matches the gable you can see that there's a singular gable and what matches here in a double gable elements of the large Elements are the same. We've just refined and tried to warm up the palette of the project As you can tell from the existing elevation there was a variety of Stepping elements that were occurring in the building they were doing that with roofing They were doing that with stone ways coding and we've provided that with trellis elements and you can see in these instances how that undulation is occurring with the belly banding and trellises here's an example of the The awnings and the siding material and the elevations Clearly without vegetation and we do have if there's any questions in regards to actual color palette We do have stone samples. We've got We've got the hearty that we're proposing the colors, so Please feel free. We can bring those up to show you if you have any questions on those The the split rail fence has remained the same. This is an indication of the trellis element will be using on the building the Trash enclosure will match the building in color and tone and Once again, the re one of the prime reasons we changed the portico share was to show The lodge feel And you can you can tell that that's been Promoted with the gable and excuse me one of the modifications to the landscape plan that East we removed some trees for storm storm water functioning I'm getting a recall. I apologize and We removed fencing on the west side But the majority of the landscape plan has remained essentially the same We relocated this entry sign to the north west of the property So with that I'd like to open up any questions that you may have And hopefully I can answer them Thank you very much for the presentation We'll take questions and then we'll take public comment after that. So Drew again start with you questions for the applicant. Let's save comments for later You got it. I just have two questions And I was trying to dig through my old plan set versus new plan set and I frankly I think I'm just getting I'm forgetting because this wasn't that long ago, but I'm forgetting there was never a fence along the north side At Piner, right? That's correct. I thought I just for some reason I had it in my head. Maybe we talked about including offense Maybe that's what I had stuck in my head And then my second question is I Guess it's the roof plan. It's probably the best place to look at it your proposed roof plan so at the Southeast corner I guess it's both of it's really the Both of those South kind of hip gables. They're kind of Kind of funky to me I Don't remember I don't remember that being in the old one But I guess that's a resolution with kind of what you were talking about about your rhythm with the gables And that's pretty much the only way you could have solved that Because that's correct. Yeah, yeah, absolutely in the roof plan We we wanted to Present the gables on the end with a consistent theme so you can see that they're both facing north and they're both facing south Yeah, it kind of it kind of creates a strange condition in Elevation on the west and the east side, but I Think you're right. How else do you resolve that other than it's either it's a gable Facing both ways with a dead valley kind of situation or it's a hip So you just got it. It's kind of you just kind of pick one. Yeah, I thought that was my question though That's really the only way to solve that in terms of your design Yet and I think that looking in Elevation versus perspective is a different experience as well, and I think That will it will be softer. Yeah, I think you're right. Yeah, okay. Those are my questions. Thanks Thank you drew Henry questions Yeah That's actually the perfect page right there the the building section a that's through units above and below is that is that true? But the upper left hand corner of that slide So so in the improved kind of a four-foot Difference in structure and ceiling and in the in the proposed you have 12 feet So that the ceilings in the units are going to be 12 feet high They will be in some areas like the bathrooms closets. We fur them down in Primarily we do that in the common area to create an interstitial space for the HVAC and We've done tricks in the past where We will Take two-thirds will put a belly band and then we will paint different color to get the perception of a lower experience in the unit But yeah, that's That is the design Okay, and my only other question is the the fenestration the windows that were Approved were those true divided lights or were those gridded Sandwiched in between dual-plane glazing or the approved was Milgaard quiet line The actual function. I am not exactly sure of at this point We do have Standard slider windows Which will be vinyl that will be a beige color Okay, that's my question Thanks, thanks Henry Adam questions for the applicant Sure, thank you, and thank you for your presentation Couple of questions in terms of the exterior Decorations and some of the flavor that's around just wondering the rationale behind Removing things like the decorative paving or you know I understand with the entry way yet you have some utilities you needed to remove the fountain and Sign for but just wondering about other things. It was about engineering or not as As you can the the the pluses and minuses of construction were a primary Effect and when we were looking at the aesthetic design at the building We have you'll notice the shutters. You'll notice the metal canopies. You'll notice the The Julia balconies so there's been a lot more Emphasis and effort put and cost put to the vertical face of the building as opposed to the plane I would definitely agree generally with a change of experience in paving if you were trying to create traffic control in terms of Speed etc. And in this instance instance in just regards the trade-off we thought it was going to be better value Dressing up the building and and how we did it with adding on those elements to make the building vertical look more residential Okay Another question is about the Courtyard area seems like it's been the inner sort of open open space I'm has been shrunk a lot that looks like the darn dining or gathering areas sort of jetting out into it I know they sort of goes to the LA in from the entrance, but I'm just wondering what the Reasoning irrational mind shrinking that you know the only open space for outdoor space for the residents is When we started to redesign the interior of the building once again, we get to performer and we get to function and The amount of common space that was available for use for the residents to make their experience Pleasant throughout the day and to achieve those activities room size the dining room size The kitchen for example is a third bigger than what it needed to be just function the amount the amount that you serve actually in this facility so There's that which had to build additional constraint, but there was an owner request and they're in a request was that The experience from the dining room having light coming in from both sides. It really is a wonderful experience And the operator has one facility like that. He really likes it And that was a program issue that he wanted to incorporate into the project. So that's how we Incorporated that design. We also there was a gated area at the back Which I imagined was to bring memory care residents down into The the lower area Yes, so what we have done what we have done on the upstairs is we've created a deck for the memory kid actually be out at Traverse directly from their living space out into an open area and not have to be escorted downstairs it's has the operational issues there and We actually are in the process of working With the development team to and the design team to create The experience from the top of that roof like the rooms looking out onto that roof What's that gonna be look like we've talked about sculptures wind art We've talked about all these wonderful things for the residents that have something that's enjoyable to look at And in regards to the width to height ratio I've been in courtyards That are about one to one in terms of height to width and they they work once you start getting beyond That it feels really really compact Yes, and and and the majority of the times when you visit these facilities they use them Occasionally, but it's not a primary function. I mean someone like you or I would get more used out of sitting out in the larger open area And they Won't use this. Yeah, so I mean, but it is an adequate size and it is in in our experience Okay. Yeah, because I wondered if there were there was reasoning behind that, you know therapy or the you know medical concerns because you know the exposure today exterior for for People that are older and memory issues or you know, so you have thinking of therapeutic architecture as well But please please do you're thinking of adding in some of those elements with the Exactly, and then we've talked about keeping keeping a visual to that same deck So as the memory care people are on that deck, they'll be looking on top of that roof deck with so if there's interesting stuff going on They can they can observe that and be entertained by it. Yeah, thanks for explaining that those are my questions Thank you Adam Brett questions for the applicant Yes, thank you, I think for me the same questions from from Adam about the courtyard and and kind of the the decrease in square footage of that I think is I Understand the you know internal kind of programmatic issues and concerns, but really I mean this the the site is Kind of you know maxed out and in terms of you know a pleasant I guess experience Outside of outside of the building the only thing that's offered up is the courtyard, you know the two the two courtyards now And I just I just I just concerned about I guess that you know that element being Well one Being being lush enough and inviting and comforting enough Because these are you know people, you know that have you know major struggles and so I think You know when we when we talk about you know Biophilip design or these kind of terms about you know making sure people have You know can view these lush environments It's either for me the courtyard is either completely planted out and inaccessible for the most part You know and kind of just just anchor the building with that type of You know that type of treatment and maybe there's nooks for seating and things like that But getting into the touch and feel of the plant material and in those kind of sensory things You're not getting that on the perimeter of the site necessarily or these walks that but right up against a building the building foundation but It might be in that interior courtyard where people can actually find respite and not you know Pavement and deck and and things and I really like the the ideas that you're throwing around about the the rooftop and that view From units down to that rooftop Could be a you know could really enhance that experience and and really help in that in that regard so that's That's my biggest You know biggest concern. I understand the the paving response and some of the other kind of features around the site that have been Been removed as part of this plan development So I mean that's that's really my biggest biggest concern as well as what I think drew brought up about the kind of the end Gable section of the building looks awkward Yeah So, I mean I if I could just So this this area is gonna have a single story on the north and and the south and this this is where the deck will be for the memory Care and it's it's very it was very important to not have the Residence kind of accessible. It's it's it's easier for them to access being direct So that was something that we had to do and unfortunately being We couldn't we couldn't put a deck anywhere else on the exterior of the building So we had to do it internally, but the we have we have 3d modeled this building That's something that we definitely do On all these projects and in fact the design team myself and architects sat down the other just project managers and team members sat down and we we walked there sexually walked the entire building and We were making modifications into here in terms of what it feels like and here And we we definitely looked at it on a 3d level and we we got a feel for what it's like in terms of the amenities And there's going to be there's going to be planters. There's going to be walking paths There's going to be benches that all of that is definitely a consideration. We We're passionate. We're building something for these people to You know live in and have family members come and visit and And and we want to make it the best that we can so we we definitely have designed those planters and experiences into it so I Think you're Brett Eric questions. No questions. Thank you And I have the same questions and you've already answered them. So thank you very much Thank you for the presentation I at this time like to open it up for public comment on this item If any members of the public would like to speak on this item if you could approach the microphone and give us your name And I see no one approaching the microphone. So I will be closing public comment Okay, so back to the board Drew comments on the project. Well, actually I'm gonna move to approve final design review For modification to final design review the logic pine a road 1980 pine a road file number dr 19-044 Wave reading of the text Thank You Drew We'll make a second go ahead Ping-pong I'll second the motion So we've got a motion and a second on the table and we will open up for discussion so True Thanks So I actually think your revisions are Superior to the original project after kind of looking at them and more depth and I think I I may have uncovered Just my own thoughts about what drove some of the stuff. It looks like you had to put a big old firewall on this bad boy To separate some stuff Yeah, an egress to yeah, yeah, yeah, so I think you did with that kind of Burden some code requirement. I think actually the the new floor plan is Better than the previous floor plan. So thank you very much for your work. Thanks for your complete package Really my only comment is I think it's probably the same comment. I had before I think the pallets a little Bland in a way. I'd like a a little bit more color. Maybe Maybe in the stucco. I know this the stone is kind of the stone But maybe I don't know some more color. That'd be my only real comment Everything seems really nicely balanced and symmetrical and you've really thought about all four sides And I think a more complete way than the previous Elevations we saw so that's pretty much oh in the entryway I Kind of like that the larger entryway under the port co-share. It had some more windows and stuff I Think there's probably a structural thing going on there Which is why you maybe had to reduce some of that that would be my only comment is maybe if we could find a Way to open that up with a little bit more glazing That's about it. That doesn't my comment Thank You drew Henry comments This is this is my first go around with the project The board's seen it several times but I I Kind of echo a little bit of Drew's comment. I think a lot of times Forum follows function and I think the function of the interior floor plan Particularly the the gathering spaces in the in the front really work a lot better than the previous design and In some ways I prefer The exterior elevations from a and I think it's more the window sizing and I would I would encourage that the window sizes Not necessarily where I was starting to head with it with being true divided lights or or grids I Could go either way on that it doesn't really bother me but that's the smaller sizes and If they could be enlarged to at least be the same size as what you had previously proposed let more light More ventilation into the units And I'd like to see a little more introduction of color as well. I think the Looking at the The approved versus the proposed I prefer the approved from it's just a feels brighter even though it's just plain white It it feels more uplifting to me But I think if you if you added some color per drew suggestion to the to the color palette in the stucco I think it would give it back that uplifting feeling that I liked in your original approved But again pretty very nicely done project. I'm glad you spent some more time with it Looking at it from a building code standpoint I'm sure it changes all of our perspective sometimes and what our intent of design was and what reality is so Thanks for bringing it back better. Thanks Henry Adam Sure, I agree with my colleagues Definitely a superior floor plan Definitely, I think you'd really open up that entryway and you know the inclusion of the seating and the you know The piano area and there too. Just it's very inviting. I think to have that there And I really like that that diagonal slash kind of coming through. I think it really does open up and add a lot of Motion to the to the building And then continuing that through the dining area and going out into the courtyard. I do That being said I do it is unfortunate that the courier is being impacted that way that the exterior space for the residents and Not just that it's the you know the courtyard is the only exterior space But actually just creating giving them that that variety of experience I think it's it's really important to to keep that in in the the actual Mission which I know you guys are thinking about and I appreciate that you brought everyone here men's are really thinking about all these aspects the my question before about the the paving and some of the aspects were just to I don't want to see the that vibrancy sort of value engineered out I want to keep in a lot of those You know the you've got this site that's really maxed out and you've got the building there And it's really providing residences but to create the so it's not just a building but just almost like living Structure and everything you can do to maximize that Just like our my colleagues talked about the vibrancy of color That's one one way to to do that, too So I think really you know not to make it, you know, right, you know neon colors for the Florida palette or anything like that Just just bringing something in there that is creating is something. It's more not as drab and more fun and and lively and I think with the the landscape palette you're on your way there. I would Think about you know a little bit more about Plants that have Really interesting things going throughout the year as well, you know, there's a structure of the plants that The different flowering times on the textures, you know, it's it's good. It's an improvement from what you had before and then really think of that of Really putting some energy and thought into programming that courtyard space as well Like where I was talking about with, you know sensory things, too It's really important, you know having done these projects for you guys know about that in terms of therapy and really creating that so I'd say yeah, it's definitely improvement and it looks really great just as you're kind of Polishing and finishing really to bring those those human focused Aspects to it, too. You got the building like let's make it a really make it a home Thank you Thank you, Adam Brett no additional comments. Thank you Thanks, Brett Eric comments Just real quickly, I mean a great project Definitely something our community needs quickly I do agree with Board member wicks comments in regards to the windows. I do like the larger windows. I think aesthetically they're They're more pleasing having that larger size. I do like the grids. I think that looks better as well and Same thing with all the other board members regards to colors Maybe adding that an accent color may may be that middle ground if not a Different color palette all together something a little a little lighter, but other than that great project. Thank you Thanks Eric And my comments. Oh, did you want to answer something? Okay? Okay, great So my comments on the project are that I think they're Equal designs as far as being in superior nature and and I think they both kind of qualify as final designs I think they're just different. I think the The original proposed design obviously allowed more daylight. I think into the main facility Where the you know the more residential feel obviously takes away from that? So I think that that's kind of a little bit of a drawback with the new design But again, I think it's just a different design. It's more as you say residential in nature than the other one was more commercial In architectural elements with the storefront systems And I think that the other drawback was the reduction of the courtyard, but again, I see the benefits of the programming so As long as the operator is comfortable that they've offered enough outdoor space for the those living there to Have enjoyment then that's great. I did see an opportunity potentially. I haven't seen the topo So I don't know about the grading at the area But near the wetlands guessing the wetlands are a little depressed and Maybe if there's a flat space there there might be an opportunity for a couple of other resting benches Gets them out into the area away from the building again, and I don't know how many people Get out and about and you know how Mobile all the residents are so I'll kind of leave that open to the applicant as well But those are my comments and I really appreciate the package as well that both the narrative and Defining what was approved and what's proposed and it was really easy to follow along so greatly appreciate that nice work Thank you. Thank you. Um just It's it's great and I love this type of dialogue. So please please rest assured that I am I am listening and As you guys are speaking I'm thinking from the previous design I do want to comment on the size of the windows in terms of the There's some comments in regards to size the windows the p-tac units There's a little bit of a graphical thing going on because the p-tac units make the form a lot larger and actually the ownership decided to Many splits actually cost more than p-tac units. And so this is somewhere where they wanted to spend more money So the window form feels a little bit more squashed than Than it actually is in terms of the the mass at the bottom of the window There is more gridding. So we've actually had internal dialogues about Do we put grids in the windows? Do we not have grids in the windows? So we'll continue to have that and we definitely definitely heard about the window size and the colors we We've kind of laid out the palette. Would anyone like to take a look at the proposed colors? Maybe the rendering doesn't do it justice but the stone palette is is Is a very is a very warm Very it has a lot of nice grays and Bases in it. And then we pulled a lot of those neutral tones out of that for the For the elements and for the siding banding and then these what's not reading appropriately and and We do studies on exterior renderings as well. These don't show it as great clarity, but the the dark The trellises and the the Julia balconies Are intended to be that dark plum And so that will really pop it'll give some really nice contrast and then The the awnings and the shutters are the secondary purple and that that light purple So that'll that will really there will be contrast and tone tonality to the Building It is that's why we brought the samples for that reason so you guys could take a look And even under these types of lights is not the same as what it's going to be in reality But we've we did many study sessions as you guys know as designers you lay them out and you swap them out that kind of thing so Um On the paving we do have stamp concrete still at the portico chair So um, we felt that that was the arrival point that we wanted to kind of keep that really kind of clean and Grand so and and just to go back to the side plan. I am definitely hearing you on the courtyard and I in looking at the previous design there was um That we do have bio bio bio filter areas out here And we have planters and we have landscape screening, but previously they did have a fence ownership Wanted to move away from the fence, but I could see this as an opportunity to especially with the windows to Maybe get some seating areas out there and maybe activating that a little bit with some indoor outdoor activity because the door is there so With that we'll definitely keep those considerations In mind and keep refining those as we move through So and we'll continue those 3d studies on the interior because we do Whether it's whether it's um vegetable planters or whether it's Those types of things for these residents we we add those in to to create nice lifestyle Thank you for addressing this so we've got No, sorry I think I have a way to condition I was going to say we've got a motion in a second and we would need friendly amendments to make these Yeah, I was going to propose uh It's my motion so you can uh summarize and someone else can propose Summarize and see if the applicant was okay with it because one's a shall and one's a consider or two are considers I guess I should say I don't know, but you want to you want to do it fire away? Okay So I was thinking over here about the windows It's mostly my idea about the windows and I think I'm trying to give you the most flexibility um with the windows And so that would be the only shall I think and so the way we that I would think that we could condition that would be shall provide The same square footage glazing As previously approved I don't know that that's possible. It's might be hard. Yeah with the reduction from storefront But uh, we were looking at that most of like the the unit windows for instance They're the same width, but they're not the same height at least from what we can tell Um, so that's why we were thinking square footage might be the way to go you could add just uh Substantially shall provide substantially the same square footage or approximately the same square footage And then that gives them a little bit of flexibility in terms of because they did get rid of some of the storefront That was at the ground level which I think maybe providing Because I mean in all honesty you guys are it looks like you're going from storefront to flanged probably fiberglass windows, I would guess from a cost standpoint yeah, so So that's how this shall provide substantially same square footage Glazing as previous seminal does that sound good to you guys? For the new for the Or just overall total whole project Substantially same for the whole project. I think it's going to be difficult to achieve. Yeah, you think I guess I'd like to just go back real quick to the comparison elevations because there was a lot of Glazing at the front of the building so that was removed to get that residential feel Um, I've got an idea I think it's a shall and it's a consider so it shall provide substantially the same glazing at the Memory care and assisted living units and then consider increasing the glazing at the public spaces Does that give you guys enough flexibility? Okay. Yes. Thank you. So those two and then the third one Uh, consider More vibrant exterior color palette Leaves it up to you guys if you want to find a brighter white a brighter purple a brighter gray You know as you start looking at it, but I think if you put these colors on the building right now, it'd probably be okay I think Henry and I are probably just We like a little bit more vibrancy a little bit more contrast. Yeah, it's up, but ultimately it's up to you guys.  You're you know We're telling you hey, we'd like to see a different color, but if it doesn't work out we understand And then the last one would probably be something about the Tree stuff Down there my colleagues my landscape architect friends that I don't really know how to summarize tree stuff Thank you guys. Thank you guys for saying a lot of stuff I'll just say like a pretty broad wall that I was glazing over about Would either Adam or Brett like to Characterize a friendly amendment as to the landscape comments I would say to consider maximizing seasonal variation and color but throughout the year and choosing the plant palette I guess that's a way to determine Absolutely. Yes, and my our landscape architect isn't here, but Let's repeat that one for slowly Tree stuff this has just worked Shall consider maximizing the seasonal variation and Interests maximizing seasonal interests when choosing the Color palette in concordance with the wheelo and wool calls requirements and standards We'll just use that one as a consider I think board member Sharon you said color palette, but you meant plant palette. Is that correct? variation in the plant palette The the plant palette will have the color in it so Um So Yes having the the color variation the seasonal color variation in the plant palette Perfect. Thank you amend it well. Yeah, but we got that. Thanks. Thanks, bell Susie did you uh pick all that up? You want you want me to do a read back? Sure would make light pressure Okay, the first one Shell provides substantially the same square footage of glazing In the memory care and assisted living units And then consider increasing the amount of glazing in the commercial Areas I would call it The public common areas common and public areas Common and public slash public. Okay, so let me reread that Consider increasing the amount of glazing in the common slash public areas Consider a more vibrant exterior palette And consider maximizing seasonal color variation slash interest in the plant palette Does that work for everybody here? Does that work for the applicant? Yes, thank you great So we've got a motion and a second and we need someone outside of that motion and a second to offer up a friendly amendment for said changes Okay You're up Henry say it's just Like to make a friendly amendment Like to make a friendly amendment With those changes as Susie write the items as Susie read into the record And does the motioner accept the friendly amendment? I do accept the friendly amendment and does the second accept? Yes Okay, and we're gonna try something new tonight even though our technology didn't work real well the first go around We're gonna try our voting buttons So we've never done this before we're very very official now So the voting buttons are to the right of your leg and the top one is yes The second one Which is in the middle is no and the last one is abstention so Press away as you're ready Looks like Brett's not showing up on the light, but an atom isn't either, but I They're both pressed on the It's a treat on that All right, looks like we're all in And all in favor so Motion passes Thank you again for your time and for the package. Thank you guys. Yeah, I appreciate it. Appreciate the dollar Okay, moving on to item number seven Board member reports did anything happen between yesterday at about six o'clock and today at around six o'clock Okay No, there was just one thing that I didn't mention but I will mention it just very quickly now So, uh, we had our joint meeting last night be on the lookout for another joint meeting coming up soon It'll be for the downtown station area specific plan update Um, and that's the only update that I have right now Great. Thank you bill And uh board member reports I skipped over that one. I did them out of sequence No board member reports, okay Thank you all for your time. We are adjourned


Bioacoustic properties of speech have shown promise in identifying psychiatric disorders. However, obtaining a sufficient amount of speech data to accurately measure these properties can be challenging. This study examined how the duration of speech affects the reproducibility of certain acoustic features. The authors found that fewer features were reproducible when the speech was reduced in length, particularly in terms of spectral shape, pitch, and formants. Additionally, gender differences were observed in the reproducibility of certain features. Overall, this study highlights the importance of collecting adequate amounts of speech data to ensure accurate measurement of bioacoustic properties. This article was authored by Shekha A. Almagrabi, Dominic Thoulas, Simon Thwaites, and others.


Well my dear students, the course is Labour Policy Pakistan and the topic in hand is ILO and Labour Market Governance and Working Conditions in Pakistan. The constitution particularly the 18th Amendment Act 2010 has my dear students brought sweeping changes in labour administration of Pakistan with several functions previously performed by a federal government devolving to the provinces with the responsibility of legislating and administering of labour laws. My dear students, a strong labour market governance drives business. Business confidence and investment at high level and is essential to establish a well functioning labour market in Pakistan. My dear students, you will be enlightened to know that Pakistan has ratified two important governance related conventions namely labour inspection convention number 81 and tripartite consultation convention number 144. These conventions provide a strong foundation for development of an effective labour inspection system to meet the growing challenges of globalization and economic liberalization. Pakistan context main, my dear students, you will be enlightened to know that predominantly labour administration is devolved to the provincial governments in Pakistan. In Pakistan there are five provinces Punjab, Sindh, Khyber, Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgat, Baltistan including two regions that is Islamabad Capital Territory and Pakistani administered Kashmir. Dear students, you will be enlightened to know that the four provinces Punjab, Sindh, Kepike and Balochistan have much established system as regards the labour while the two regions are in process of evolving their system. You will be more enlightened to know that the provincial government of Kepike is in process to put in place labour administration system in the seven newly emerged districts formerly known as federally administered tribal areas. The provincial department of labour do have elaborate labour inspection machinery, training facilities and are supported by administrative and judicial mechanisms to ensure compliance and address violations of labour legislation. Dear students in federal government and each of the four provinces there are tripartite consultative committees to advise mayors on labour administration to the provinces. Hope you have understood the topic. Thank you very much indeed.


Ardedig o'r twelyn gyda ffwrnaeth y cyfleoedd pwysig ar gyfer y sgolodau M shamid a'r gwrthoedau i gyflogu hyfyrddion gyffredigol, beidio cyflogu blofnolaeth a'r cyfleoedd bwysig fel pannegyrchu bwysig? Ar i gilyddol, yn ddaf i gyflym o'r trefeyddau cyfleoedd a'r eilon o'r 20 febury 2018. Felly, yr eileu llystfel, rwy'n gwybodaeth yn gwybod ddododd dae o'r cyfleoedd The British Transport Police Authority reviewed progress on operational matters at a workshop in February 2018 and concluded that a number of significant issues remain to be resolved. As a result of that assessment, the joint programme board was advised that further time is needed to deliver integration, most effectively and safely, for railway passengers, staff and officers. Ministers accepted that advice and that a replanning exercise would take place to establish a new delivery date. That reflects the importance that this Government places on ensuring that a safe, effective and smooth transition is achieved, which delivers continuity of service for rail users and staff. The next joint programme board meeting will be held in Edinburgh on 8 May. Mary Fee. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. A paper written by the British Transport Police Federation and reported on last week, found that the merger of BTP into Police Scotland not only risk creating life-threatening safety issues but could also cost between £225,000 and £500,000 per officer. Does the cabinet secretary agree with those costings and, if not, what have the Government estimated the cost per officer of the merger will be? Claimant, which the member made reference to, including pensions, could cost up to £500,000 per transfer of officers, is simply inaccurate. It does not take account of the fact that pension liabilities are met by assets and that schemes are currently fully funded. Actorial advice that was shared with the SPA in October of last year states that pension liabilities are about £97 million and are balanced by £99 million of pension fund assets, so we do not recognise those figures, although I recognise that the British Transport Police Federation opposed the integration of British Transport Police into Police Scotland. Liam McArthur. I follow on from Mary Fee's question. At the point of delay, does the Scottish Government set aside any additional budget to address some of the concerns that were raised by the British Transport Police Association and others? For the very reasons that I have just outlined to Mary Fee, we do not recognise the figures that they have produced and we have set out the reasons for that. We also made very clear that the funding for the work that we are taking forward just now through the integration programme has been met through the police reform budget, which is used for police reform measures within Scotland. John Mason. I wonder whether the cabinet secretary would accept that it is frustrating for the public that there is a delay in all of this, because the public does not understand why there should be one police force for a railway platform, a separate police force for a road a few yards away, and the sooner we can get a simpler system, the better. I recognise the frustrations that the member has expressed, but I can assure the member that we are fully committed to ensuring that British Transport Police are integrated into Police Scotland. I should say that progress has been made in a number of very important areas in taking forward the integration programme, including a significant amount of work that has been undertaken over the course of the last nine months. Alongside that, there has been work that has now been taken forward as part of the reprogramming exercise to ensure that there are clear timelines for the outstanding work to be taken forward. I reassure all members that the travel and public continue to receive a service from British Transport Police, alongside that, with Police Scotland, as and when necessary, in supporting their BTP colleagues when incidents do occur. Jamie Greene. Contrary to what Mr Mason just said, does the cabinet secretary not accept that there are still some serious concerns around the merger, especially around issues around ICT infrastructure? Is it about time that the cabinet secretary listened to experts and went back to the drawing board completely on this very unpopular merger? As the member will recognise, the merger of BTP policing into Police Scotland is something that was approved and agreed by a majority in his Parliament. I recognise that his own party plans to abolish British Transport Police and to move to an astro-infrastructure policing unit with the integration of BTP into the MOD policing and into civil nuclear policing, which would abolish BTP completely. My concerns about that particular approach is that I suspect that it would largely be an armed base force, given the nature of the work that is carried out by civil nuclear officers and Ministry of Defence police services. I recognise that there are concerns about the integration plans that we have here in Scotland. The replaning exercise is an important element of making sure that the areas of work that still have to be carried out and completed before full integration takes place, that that replaning exercise identifies the timeline for taking that forward. However, I do not share the member's view that we should abolish BTP and move it into a national infrastructure policing division in the way in which his party has proposed at a last election and was previously muted by the UK Government and is clearly the UK Government's policy going forward at the present time. To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has shared its experience of tackling knife crime with the Metropolitan Police. Police Scotland routinely works in collaboration with other forces and recently hosted a visit from the Metropolitan Police to explore issues of common interest. That included a discussion of efforts to reduce violence and knife crime areas where, as the member knows, Scotland continues to face challenges but has, through our public health approach, made some significant progress. Kenneth Gibson I thank the justice secretary for that answer. Under the SNP Government, knife crime has fallen by 69 per cent in a decade from 10,110 incidents to 3,101, with an even steeper fall, 77 per cent in my own area of North Ayrshire having previously doubled under the Labour, Lib Dem administration. Does he agree that having six per cent more police on the streets under the SNP, compared with a 17 per cent fall in England under the Tories, has made a difference? Given the appalling tragedy of 39 young people stabbed to death in London so far this year, what further advice can the cabinet secretary give on how best to tackle this scourge? Can I write, members? I quite like short questions, cabinet secretary. The cabinet secretary is right to highlight the fact that crimes involving handling offensive weapons in Scotland has significantly reduced since 2006-07. However, we know the devastating consequences that should come from knife crime in our communities. We certainly have no way to afford to be complacent about the progress that we have made. In my view, one knife crime will always be one to many. Alongside the very tough enforcement action that we have taken in our approach to tackle knife crime, we have also had a firm focus on prevention and early intervention, which has no doubt played a significant role in helping to reduce knife crime in Scotland, including to the levels that the member made reference to in his constituency. We have invested significantly in the national violence reduction unit, which has allowed us to make sure that there is a clear focus on violence prevention. That has also included the development of medics against violence, a prevention programme that has been delivered in some of our schools in Scotland and also the mentors in violence prevention programme that has now been delivered in schools across the country to teach young people about the risks and the dangers of violent crime, but also to promote healthy relationships and to help them to keep them safe. Alongside that, specifically on knife crime, we have the No Knives Better Lice youth engagement programme, which aims specifically to reduce the instance of violence and knife carrying among young people. That has now been delivered in 24 of our local authorities and is on track to be delivered in all 32 of our local authority areas this year. As we have made good progress in the course of the last 10 years, I can assure members that we are absolutely focused on continuing to bear down on violence, and in particular knife crime in Scotland. Our prevention approach is one that we have reached the benefits of in recent years, and we will continue to invest in in the years to come. Thank you to ask the Scottish Government what progress the Scottish Sentencing Council is making with guidelines on sentencing in relation to deaths caused by driving. The Sentencing Council is an independent body. However, my officials have been in touch with the council in connection with the question, and I can confirm that the council has advised that a sub-committee has been established to consider the development of the guidance in relation to deaths by driving. The sub-committee will be responsible for the development of the guidelines, including considering the specific timing for development of the guidelines, what research will be needed and what presently available data is held. The area of law is reserved, and it is also worth noting that the UK Government consulted in 2016 to changes to the maximum penalties for death by driving cases. In October 2017, it announced that legislation would be introduced to increase the maximum penalties for certain death by death by driving offences. That announcement can, of course, be expected to impact on the timing of the development of the guidelines by the Scottish Sentencing Council. Willie Coffey I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. He will be aware of the tragic case of my constituent William Murray, who was killed as a result of a motorbike accident in 2013. The other person involved was convicted of careless driving, given a community sentence and ban from driving for five years, but flouted that ban last November and was given another community sentence. What assurance can be given to William Murray's family and other families that the justice system will take full account of previous convictions and recommend custodial sentences for repeat offenders under any new sentencing guidelines? Cabinet secretary. I am aware of the case that I have met with the constituency member to discuss the matter, but he will also appreciate that I am not able to comment specifically on any individual case. Low members will recognise that the courts take into account all the relevant facts and circumstances when it comes to making decisions on sentencing, and that includes the fact that they are dealing with someone who may be a repeat offender. Of course, in any given case, those are decisions for the court to make, informed by the information that is provided to them, by the prosecution and also by the defence. I can understand why victims and their families are keen to understand how sentencing decisions are made and why the court has come to a particular determination. That is one of the reasons why transparency in sentencing is important and why we establish a Scottish In Sentencing Council and why the work that it is taking forward will be important in encouraging greater transparency around sentencing decisions. The publishing of sentencing guidelines for the first time this autumn represents a real opportunity to improve public understanding of sentencing and how it works. While I recognise the independence of the sentencing council, what representations has the Government been making to the council so that we can ensure that guidelines lead to transparent, understandable sentencing and reflect the seriousness of the crime in general? As the member mentioned in his own question, is an independent body responsible for taking those matters forward in the manner in which it sees as being most appropriate? It consults the Scottish Government on its draft business programme, however the content of that is a matter for the Scottish Sentencing Council. Once it has completed the delivery of any work to establish new sentencing guidelines, it will then be a matter for the Scottish Sentencing Council to determine how it will take that forward. I would expect that to be taken forward in partnership with the judiciary, including the Lord President, in ensuring that our senators are aware of the new guidelines once they have been implemented. They can have support in that work through the judicial institute, which is responsible for helping to support the training of our sentensers. However, decisions on taking that forward are rightly a matter for the Scottish Sentencing Council, and I do not think that it would be appropriate for the Government to start intervening in how they take those matters forward and how they then disseminate that information once their work has been completed. The Scottish Sentencing Council was formed in October 2015, which is now two and a half years ago. Guidelines were promised on death by driving in October 2016, one and a half years ago, yet only now are we seeing some action. The Scottish National Party also promised action to crack down on drug driving last September after pressure from the Scottish Conservatives. What progress has been made? Clearly, the member does not understand how the Scottish Sentencing Council operates on the basis of an independent body that is headed up by the Lord Justice Clerk, with a range of experts who are appointed to for their purposes to support them in drafting guidelines for our courts and sentensers. The member may wish to reflect on that in understanding how it operates. In relation to drug driving, the member will be aware, although he may not be aware, given that he was not a member of the Parliament at the time when this decision was made, that we made a decision on the basis of the recommendations that came in relation to both drink and drug driving about the priorities that we would set in adjusting the existing or the previous drink driving rate or introducing new provisions for drug driving. The UK Government took an approach where it chose not to lower the drink driving limit in the way in which we chose to do so. We did that and we now have the lowest drink driving limit within the whole of the UK in order to promote greater safety on our roads. We said at that time that once that work had been completed and that it had been embedded with Police Scotland operationally, we would then turn to the introduction of drug driving tests. That is exactly what has now been taken forward and that work has presently been undertaken in partnership with Police Scotland. Once that work has been completed, Scotland will have the most robust drink driving and drug driving limits in the whole of the UK. I hope that that helps member in understanding what was previously agreed here in Parliament and the approach that we are taking. That is the important progress that we are making in ensuring that our roads in Scotland are as safe as possible from those who too often simply ignore the safety risks that are associated with drink driving and also drug driving. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the concerns raised by Rape Crisis Scotland and others regarding the Crown Office and procurator fiscal services changes to prosecution policy in cases of rape and sexual violence. The Lord Advocate and I had a helpful and constructive meeting with Rape Crisis Scotland on 19 April, and we have committed to work with them to provide reassurance in relation to how the policy will work in practice and ensure that victims can be given accurate information in that regard. We confirmed that the focus of the Crown's revised policy is not compelling rape complainers to testify. The focus is to ensure that the burden of prosecutorial decision making lies properly with the Crown and to ensure that decisions are made after the most careful consideration of all of the relevant circumstances. The Crown is committed to doing all that it can to prevent violence against women and girls and to protect the public from serious sexual violence. As prosecutors, we know only too well and understand the challenges that the criminal justice system can present for complainers in rape cases. That is why the Crown continues to work with others to address the features in the system that contribute to reluctance and witness attrition. Christina McKelvie I thank the Solicitor General for that response and welcome the on-going work with Rape Crisis Scotland. I am sure that many of us here will welcome that work indeed. Is it the case that the Crown would not take action against any complainer who failed to give evidence after a warrant was issued? If it is the case, can the Scottish Government give me and Rape Crisis Scotland and others assurances that no rape complainer will be jailed if they are unable to give evidence even where a warrant is issued? Christina McKelvie We can never exclude the possibility that there could be circumstances where a witness warrant might be sought if a complainer refused to attend a court when lawfully cited. Whilst we accept that, we expect that this would and could only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances, which I may say have not arisen in the time that I have been prosecuting rape in the High Court for the past 10 years as a law officer or, indeed, since the 12th of March, since the policy was clarified. Should that issue ever arise before any decision was taken about the appropriateness of seeking a warrant in the first place, very careful consideration and assessment would be given by an experienced prosecutor to all the relevant factors in that individual case, the circumstances of the complainer, her vulnerabilities, the nature and reasons for her reluctance, and also, crucially, the nature and circumstances and gravity of the offence and the offender. Only after considering all of those circumstances will any decision be taken and I may say that this will be an assessment that is one of many conducted through the entire process. We will take careful account of the risks of not proceeding against a particularly dangerous accused, but the complainers' views, her welfare and her interests are at the heart of the Crown's prosecution policy in relation to reluctant complainers. The policy underlines the importance of exploring the reasons for that reluctance and of working, along with other agencies, to address those concerns where we can, to re-engage and to support that witness. However, all of that means in practice that there will continue to be cases where taking account of all of these relevant circumstances, the right thing to do is not to take proceedings or to discontinue them. I have only managed to get to question 4 and I am going to take two brief supplementaries on question 4, but I want to say that it is important that not only I say this to the entire chamber, that questions are short but answers are succinct as well. I appreciate one has to be very careful, particularly in justice issues, with the answers that are given, but to only reach question 4. I would ask those who have been in here today speaking to look at the time they have been on their feet, because next time I am in the chamber I will intervene if answers, as well as questions, are too long in order that we can at least let other members get in. Reaching question 4 is not good enough in my book, but I will now take Kezia Dugdale on a supplementary on that question. Please make it brief to be followed by Margaret Mitchell with a brief supplementary, and please short answers. Thank you. Can I ask this list to general what further work is undertaken to support rape victims during the court process, with specific regards to the length of time it takes cases to get to trial, and indeed the number of delays that victims face? Thank you. There is a lot of work going on, most notably in relation to reduction of the pre-petition workload that contributes to a delay, the journey time from report to trial. We have reduced the number of those cases from 700 in 2016 to 200 today. We continue to act on feedback from rape crisis Scotland directly on the lived experience of complainers and have changed our practices already in that regard. We will continue to work with others in the system to address those system-wide features that contribute to delay and the other circumstances that contribute to reluctance and attrition. Can I ask this list to general to confirm how many rape victims have applied for legal aid and been accepted to oppose the disclosure of sensitive medical records and what advice the Crown and Procurator Fiscal gives to the victims that this option is available? I do not know the numbers and advice that is given in that regard. Thank you very much. I apologise indeed to the five members who are not called. I trust that I will not repeat this again. It means that I cannot call supplementaries if they are very long answers and I do not want to cut out supplementaries in important questions. Now we want questions on culture, tourism and external affairs, question 1. That advice, or telling off, I have given a pertain to the next set. I call Angus MacDonald. First question. To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Event Scotland will receive in the current financial year. Cabinet Secretary, Event Scotland is part of Visit Scotland's events directorate and, as such, it does not receive direct grant and aid funding from the Scottish Government. Its funding is an operational decision for the Visit Scotland board. I will ask the Visit Scotland chief executive to write to the member with the details once the funding for 2018-19 has been agreed by the Visit Scotland board. I can tell Mr MacDonald that, in 2017-18, Event Scotland was allocated £9.3 million. Angus MacDonald. I thank the cabinet secretary for her response and clearly welcome this year's funding. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the established motorsport event, the bonus revival classic car show on hill climb held annually in my constituency. Over the past three years, it has received funding from Event Scotland's national events programme, however, there is a maximum limit of three awards from that fund. Does she agree that there is possibly a chance to mention to Event Scotland that there could be a possibility of relaxing the three-year rule on a discretionary basis to allow continued funding for events such as the bonus hill climb? I am aware of the revival classic show on hill climb in Bonesa, an important event. It would be a decision for Visit Scotland if it were to relax that three-year funding. Of course, that would mean that if it had another year's funding for that organisation or indeed any others, it would mean that less funding would be available for new events if existing events received funding for a fourth year. I understand that the chairman of the bonus hill climb had a productive meeting with Visit Scotland only on Monday, and it will continue to provide non-funding support and advice to the event to help it to develop a more sustainable commercial business for the future. Rachel Hamilton To ask the cabinet secretary what percentage of funding will be allocated to events that will encourage diversity. Cabinet secretary, if the member was listening to my very first answer, she will be aware that the Scottish Government does not provide direct grant and aid to Event Scotland decisions about event Scotland and indeed the distribution and indeed to which organisations are promoting diversity will be a decision for the Visit Scotland board. However, as I replied to the first question, I will ask Visit Scotland to advise the member once he makes that decision. To ask the Scottish Government what scope there is through its international development fund to support projects that are not in its four partner countries, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan. Our new international development strategy, published in 2016, focused our work on, as the member said, four partner countries with which we have strong historic and contemporary links to ensure that our £10 million international development fund has the greatest impact. Scottish-based organisations working in any country whose human development scores medium or low on the current United Nations human development index are, however, eligible to apply for our small grants programme for feasibility or capacity building grants of up to £10,000. Ivan McKee I thank the minister for that answer and I agree with the strategy of focusing on four countries to ensure maximum impact. However, retaining flexibility to fund projects in other countries enables us to respond to and support specific needs as they arise. As the minister will be aware, I recently visited Palestine, a country badly in need of development support. I would like to ask the minister if he would meet with me to discuss specific projects in the occupied west bank that would benefit from some limited Scottish Government funding support. Ivan McKee I am more than happy, of course, to meet the member to hear his concerns that he wishes to raise around that issue. I just want to mention possibly in passing 2, however, that we have provided in the past one-off funding, humanitarian funding for Gaza. Also, the Scottish Government has sought to be helpful to fire fighters in Scotland who are seeking to provide or make sure that a fire engine made its way to Palestine to assist people in that part of the world, too. Jeremy Balfour To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Creative Scotland regarding the appointment of the head of the new screen unit. The recruitment of the executive director of Screen and Creative Enterprise is a matter for Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland updates Scottish Government regularly about progress with the screen unit, including on recruitment at project board and screen committee meetings, and at the routine meetings that it has with sponsored department officials. I am also updated in meetings with them. Creative Scotland has invited the Scottish Government director for culture, tourism and major events to sit on the selection panel. Yes. Jeremy Balfour, please. I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. Will the cabinet secretary commit to regular meetings and will she also report back to this chamber of how those meetings go? Cabinet secretary. I have regular meetings with Creative Scotland. My communication to Parliamentarians is normally via the convener of the relevant committee, and indeed on 8 March there was a letter from Creative Scotland to that committee, making sure that they were aware of the developments and the progress. If the member has a particular interest in following that, I suggest that he might look at the papers and publications that come from that committee as they are open to every Parliamentarian in this committee. As the cabinet secretary will be aware, the culture committee is undertaking an inquiry into the screen sector, including scrutiny of the new screen unit. Is she confident that the governance arrangements under the head of the new screen unit will work, who will work underneath Creative Scotland, are appropriate for meeting the specific needs of this sector? Cabinet secretary. Yes, I do. Indeed, in the letter that went to the committee itself, and in my response to the committee as well in terms of my correspondence, it was set out that one of the things that we think is absolutely crucial is that Creative Scotland board members appointed that have screened experience. Those adverts are about to go out. Also, in terms of the governance, lead members from within the screen sector themselves, very respected members, will be part of that governance arrangement as well. That is something that has given confidence to me, but also to others in the screen sector. I call the breathless number 4, Bob Doris, who has just arrived in town. I certainly have, Presiding Officer. I apologise for getting my timings wrong. I know that was my responsibility to ask the Scottish Government how it supports built heritage in the Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn constituency. Cabinet secretary, the Scottish Government supports built heritage across our communities through the lead public body historic environment Scotland. Maryhill borough halls was restored in 2012, with help from public funds awarded by the former historic Scotland and the Scottish Government. Bob Doris. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. I point out that Springburn has been plated by the loss of a number of buildings of heritage over the years, but the illicit winter gardens in Springburn part remains a wonderful asset despite being on the buildings that risk of register. The Springburn winter gardens trust is making an ambitious, large-scale heritage lottery fund bid to save and repurpose the winter gardens for future generations at the defining moment in the project's future. Can I ask the cabinet secretary to offer her best wishes for the bid and can I extend an invite to visit the winter gardens and hear more about those ambitious plans? Cabinet secretary, I certainly can provide my best wishes for those and the local trusts that are looking at the A-listed glass house in Springburn part, the winter gardens there. I am pleased that Historic Environment Scotland has managed to maintain the repair grant scheme and the funding for that. I have provided £14.5 million for a further year from the Scottish Government, and the Glasgow City Heritage Trust can help to fund those organisations. In terms of visiting, I am very interested in our historic heritage in all parts of Scotland, and I should provide that I would be very willing to come and see what is happening in Springburn. I am obliged at this point to inform the chamber that the First Minister has appointed me as parliamentary liaison officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, and I further wish to refer members to my register of interests, specifically my membership of the Music and Union. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports participation in music. The Scottish Government supports participation in music in many different ways. Our long-standing investment of £100 million since 2007 in the Youth Music Initiative has made a huge impact, helping young people in all 32 local authorities to access music-making opportunities, helping to ensure that every people is offered a year's free music tuition by the end of P6. A further £9 million of funding has been allocated to the initiative in 2018-19. We are providing £2.5 million to System of Scotland as part of our four-year funding package in communities in Stirling, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. We are also investing £22.5 million in our national performing companies this year. All of them have music content within their programmes and outreach programmes. We are providing £10 million towards the new Edinburgh impact performance venue, which will provide a home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Creative Scotland also works with a range of partners to ensure that people have the opportunity to participate in music. The recently announced regular funded network includes strong support for all music genres, from contemporary to jazz to classical to traditional. Tom Arthur. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for that answer. For many people, their first experiences of participation in music occurs, of course, in school. Does the cabinet secretary share the concerns that are expressed by many musicians that children and young people will lose out on opportunities to participate in music-making if some local authorities continue to reduce instrumental teaching services and increase tuition charges? I am very concerned about the decision by some local authorities to cut access to instrumental music tuition, particularly at secondary level. The Deputy First Minister also shares my concerns. I have asked Scottish Government culture officials to work with education officials to assess the impact and identify ways. Respecting the autonomy and responsibility local councils have for this, I have asked them to work with key stakeholders to ensure that we have a vibrant music tuition provision in the future to inspire the many young people who currently benefit from it. Gordon Lindhurst. Does the cabinet secretary also share the concern about the proposals in West Lothian to cut certain instruments from free music tuition and to charge for tuition, which could lead to the detriment of disadvantaged children and the council in West Lothian blaming the Scottish Government budget cuts for this? Cabinet Secretary. Of course, the member will be aware that local government as a whole in Scotland did have a real-terms increase, and in particular West Lothian has had an increase in its budget as well. I am very familiar with the situation in West Lothian. My constituency is the Nolisco constituency, and I think that it is absolutely shocking in a county where it has been championed and regarded across Scotland as providing some of the best of music tuition that it would even contemplate abolishing string tuition and also percussion tuition. I think that at the intervention of the Children's Commissioner who identified that they hadn't even consulted children and young people about that provision, they are now looking again at that provision and I would urge them seriously to do so. It is not just the reputation of West Lothian council as a music making champion that is severely at risk, it is the opportunities that young people in my constituency and across West Lothian face. Question 6, Murdo Fraser. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to ensure that historic battlefields are preserved. Historic Environment Scotland has a statutory duty to compile and maintain an inventory of historic battlefields of the national importance. The inclusion of a battlefield on the inventory means that particular consideration must be given to any impact on the site of any development or activity on it. The effect of a proposed development on inventory battlefields is a material consideration in the planning system. Scottish planning policy sets out the matters that planning authorities should consider in determining planning applications relating to historic battlefields, including protecting, conserving and enhancing their key landscape characteristics and special qualities. A further layer of scrutiny is provided by a planning direction from 2012, which sets out when ministers have to be notified over planning proposals that affect historic battlefields. Where development is not within the planning system, for example, in forestry or trunk roads proposals, Historic Environment Scotland's policy statement sets out that public bodies should ensure that nationally important battlefields are given consideration in their plans. Murdo Fraser. I thank the cabinet secretary for that comprehensive response. She will know that the success of the Outlander books and TV series has caused a renewed interest in the Jacobite period. Yet, at the same time, two important Jacobite battle sites are being threatened by development, one being Culloden, the other being Kilicrankey in the area that I represent, where plans by Transport Scotland to extend the A9 dual carriageway to the south would cover what is the most sensitive part of the battle site where most of the casualties were incurred. That is particularly unfortunate, as there is a viable alternative to extend the A9 to the north side with a lesser impact. Would the cabinet secretary accept that, if those plans at Kilicrankey go ahead, the protections that she has outlined in her answer will be exposed as worthless? I am aware of those two developments, in particular in relation to the A9, in terms of the development of which the Scottish Government is pursuing, and I think that it will make a transformational difference to the transport between Inverness and the south. However, he will be aware that, in that particular instance, Scottish ministers will be called upon to determine the case in due course. It is not therefore appropriate for me to comment on the proposals or the objections that have been raised. However, he will be aware that Historic Environment Scotland itself, as part of the process that I outlined in my original answer, has already made its concerns about the issue known. Question 7, Peter Chapman. Government, what action is it taking to encourage more tourists to visit Orkney in Shetland? Cabinet Secretary, the Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of tourism to the economies of both Orkney and Shetland. The numerous attractions of our northern isles, for example UNESCO sites of Neolithic Orkney and Jalsof on Shetland, are actively promoted by Visit Scotland through its many marketing campaigns. It also directly supports the sector to ensure that it maximises the potential of tourism. Other public bodies play a key role, such as Highlands and Isles Enterprise, Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish National Heritage, promoting and enhancing the area's natural environment. It recognises that the popularity of sites on the islands and other rural areas brings challenges to public infrastructure. We launched the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund last year to address those issues, and one of the fund's pilots announced last month was £80,000 towards car parking at the stones of Stennis, providing much-needed facilities at a popular Neolithic site. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In its 2016 manifesto, the SNP pledged to reduce ferry fares on services to Orkney and Shetland. Last year, the minister stated that the fare reductions would be rolled out in the first half of 2018, saving visitors up to £100. With only 10 weeks until this timeframe ends, surely the Government has some plan in place, or is this just another SNP-broken promise? I point out to the member that I am the tourism secretary. I am not the transport minister. The transport minister, I can reassure the member, is actively involved in the issue, and I am sure that he will be more than happy to update the member appropriately. However, I think that he should be taking the opportunity here and now in tourism questions to champion Orkney and Shetland the wonderful sites that they have instead of complaining about an issue that he knows that I cannot answer. Liam McArthur Thank you. I thank the cabinet secretary for giving a tour de force of the tourist attractions in my constituency, as well as Shetland. I ask her to join with me in impressing upon her colleague the transport minister, who will be in Orkney and Shetland this Friday and Saturday, to come armed with a timeframe for the delivery of the road equivalent tariff that has been promised for our lifeline ferry services. Cabinet Secretary I say that we have a very proactive and committed transport and islands minister who will take every opportunity to make sure that departments across the Government know of the importance of transport links and, indeed, the importance of tourism and the island economies as well. I am sure that, as I have just replied to the previous member, we will be able to make sure that he is updated appropriately. However, again, for the second time, I can tell him that the transport minister is actively engaged in the issue and will communicate at the appropriate time as he has the responsibility for ferries. I pray that that concludes questions, portfolio questions and culture and tourism. I apologise to the three members that I was unable to call, but it was a darn sight better than the previous session. Thanks to the questions and the short answers. We will have a short break as we move on to the next item of business.