Seòmar agus comataidhean

No. Ailsa Henderson has covered my follow-up question.

Good morning. As the convener said, we are moving on to budgets and funding, which you have already touched on slightly. Has the real-terms reduction in local government budgets impacted on councils’ abilities to deliver services and meet the needs of their communities over the past eight years?

Would having variations in the councillor-to-voter ratio impact on effective and convenient local government? We have touched on the size and scale of wards, but my question is about the benefits to communities of having a similar councillor-to-voter ratio across all wards.

Like Elena, I am a councillor—in North Lanarkshire Council.

Good morning, everyone. I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am a serving councillor in North Lanarkshire.

In a Local Government and Communities Committee meeting in 2016, the Electoral Reform Society stated:

“making electoral parity a priority is outdated.”—[Official Report, Local Government and Communities Committee, 26 October 2016; c 2.]

Do you agree with that statement? Are you aware of such parity ratios being used to determine representations in other countries—for example, in the United Kingdom or in Europe?

Good morning, Margaret, Derek and Douglas. My question relates to parity, which has been raised a few times this morning, and the Electoral Reform Society. During a Local Government and Communities Committee meeting in 2016, the ERS stated:

“making electoral parity a priority is outdated.”—[Official Report, Local Government and Communities Committee, 26 October 2016; c 2.]

Do you agree with that statement?

I will ask two questions on the Scottish Government’s housing plans and the “Housing to 2040” strategy and route map.

First, the strategy refers to the “active role” that communities can play in the development of their areas. How will the Scottish Government ensure that that happens?

The second question relates to short-term lets. Various organisations have raised concerns about the impact that proposed regulation could have on rural and urban economies and on tourism, as well as additional pressures that businesses will experience. I am interested in the cabinet secretary’s views on the concerns that have been raised. Will the cabinet secretary update the committee on the Scottish Government’s engagement with stakeholders?

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests: I am a serving councillor in North Lanarkshire Council.

During the pandemic and over the past 18 months, councils, community groups and third sector organisations have gone above and beyond. There are many examples in Scotland of good, collegiate working between such organisations. How can the Scottish Government ensure that the spirit of partnership and innovation that community groups showed over the past year is built on and that public bodies do not simply resort to business as usual?

My questions to both witnesses are about participatory budgeting and community empowerment. Is progress being made in ensuring that all communities—not just those that have confidence and expertise—are being heard by local authorities and participating in their budgetary decisions? To follow on from that, as we emerge from the pandemic, will communities be more engaged with the budget-setting processes of councils? Will there be a change in attitude, with a willingness for communities to be more engaged?

I want to pick up on issues that are being raised by integration joint boards—in particular, about their financial pressures. The majority of IJBs are struggling to break even and are facing instability in leadership. I am looking for more information about the Audit Commission’s assessment of the funding, financial planning and performance of integration joint boards.