Seòmar agus comataidhean

Sarah, do you want to add anything?

Does anybody else want to come in on that question? If not, I will move on to my last question.

No problem, convener.

Can you provide examples of a local authority working with other councils to deliver services? Some smaller councils have a lot of shared services. What impact has that had, and what more can the Scottish Government do to encourage, facilitate and support collaboration among councils?

Thank you.

The figure was 13.8 per cent. Are you going to carry out work to see how you compare with other public bodies or do you have that data just now?

Good morning, panel. I have some questions about staff. I note from the annual report that, in 2021-22, a total of 1,100 staff absence days were recorded across the organisation’s 90 staff, or an average of 12.2 sick days per staff member. That is almost double the rate in 2020-21. Why is that, and how do the figures compare with other Scottish public bodies? Have sickness levels improved?

Good morning, panel. I will just touch on the survey response rates. Is the survey response rate lower or higher than expected? What are the reasons why more than 70 per cent did not respond?

Thank you for that. Obviously, the survey response rates vary significantly, going from 13.9 per cent in Clackmannanshire Council to 71.4 per cent in Orkney Islands Council. Why is there such a difference?

Thank you for clarifying that.

My next question is about staff turnover, which was 13.8 per cent in 2021-22. Do you know how that compares with other public bodies as well as with previous years?

Thank you for that. I have no further questions, convener.