The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 4617 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
It is good to know that those mechanisms and communication forums are in place.
That brings us to the end of our session this morning. I really appreciate your coming today. It has been very useful. I have been sitting here feeling great delight to have both the Scottish Government and COSLA represented in the conversation. That is the fruition of the new deal with local government. It is good to hear that it has been positive and constructive so far. Thank you so much for joining us.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
I want to pick up on that. You talk about creating
“an environment where everyone feels valued.”
We have also been using the word “efficiency”. There is something there: there is a bit of a tension around needing to move to efficiencies and creating a service that works in a more efficient way. When I talk to members of the local government workforce, I pick up from them that, sometimes, efficiency runs counter to their feeling that they can do the job in the way that they need to do it. The idea of people-centred services is important in this regard. When we move to too much efficiency in a people-centred service, the two do not quite match up. Have you any thoughts about that?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
That sounds like constructive work that you are undertaking with the Improvement Service.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
There is no requirement for the committee to make any recommendations on negative instruments. Do members have any comments on the instrument?
As members have no comments to make, is the committee agreed that we do not wish to make any recommendations in relation to the instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
We agreed at the start of the meeting to take agenda item 4 in private, so I close the public part of the meeting.
11:47 Meeting continued in private until 12:10.Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
I appreciate that detail. That uncertainty was a big piece of the puzzle, and there was a desire for clarity. It is good to be able to understand that the funding came from underspends and reprofiling.
10:45Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
It is heartening to hear about the work that is already being taken forward, and it is good to hear your underscoring of the new fiscal framework.
Minister, I would be interested to hear your reflections on the experience so far and on what will happen going forward.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
Thank you very much. That is very helpful.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
That is good to hear.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Ariane Burgess
Good morning, and welcome to the 22nd meeting in 2023 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. I remind all members and witnesses to ensure that their devices are on silent and all other notifications are turned off.
The first item on our agenda is to decide whether to take item 4 in private. Do members agree to do so?
Members indicated agreement.