Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, Robert. I have a supplementary question about rural employment. From what I understand, about one third of the rural population of Scotland is employed in the public sector. How are things going there, from your perspective, in terms of the challenges of recruitment? Is it challenging in similar ways, or is it different? I know that you are not rurally based, but I am hoping that you might have the big picture.

It was very interesting to hear some of that detail.

I asked about the new deal with local government, which includes the agreement on work, the fiscal framework and the programme of activities. I will come to APSE first. I am interested to hear your thoughts on how the new deal can support local authorities in addressing the workforce challenges that they face.

I will bring in Pam Gosal.

For our second panel we are joined in the room by Martin Booth, who is the executive director of finance at Glasgow City Council, and Paul Manning, who is the executive director of finance and corporate resources and deputy chief executive officer at South Lanarkshire Council. We are also joined online by Robert Emmott, who is executive director of corporate services at Dundee City Council. I welcome you all to the meeting.

We turn to questions from members. As previously, we will try to direct questions to a specific witness where possible, but if you would like to come in, please indicate as much to the clerks. Robert, as you are appearing virtually, please type an R into the chat function. There is also no need to operate your microphones, as we will be doing that for you automatically. Sometimes there is a bit of a pause before the microphone comes on, but we are aware of that.

I will begin with the same general question that I asked the previous panel—and I will direct it to you first, Martin, as you know it is coming. I am interested in hearing you highlight what you believe to be the main challenge for the local government workforce at the moment.

I would like to raise some points against the motion to annul. We have heard this morning that, currently, 48 per cent of the male deer that are culled are shot out of season and that the minister is bringing forward regulation that will remove the administrative burden on NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland. I have heard from Scottish Environment LINK, which is a body that is comprised of many environmental organisations in Scotland. It states:

“we fully support all 91 recommendations of the Independent Deer Working Group accepted by Scottish Government including the removal of close seasons for male deer.”

It goes on to say:

“There is no scientific basis for maintaining close seasons for male deer. Nor is there any historical tradition for the arrangement, which was introduced by the UK Government in the 1960s at a time when the red deer population was less than half its current size. Even then, there was opposition from the ... Deer Commission based in Scotland, which expressed concern about rising deer numbers. Deer damage to habitats does not cease during close seasons.

This measure does not actually oblige any landowner to cull male deer all year round.”

Scottish Environment LINK also refers to removing

“excessive bureaucracy, time, and cost to the public purse”,

which is important.

We have also heard this morning that the land managers and the practitioners who are involved are professional and that they care about animal welfare, and I trust that they will carry out the work in that light. We must remember that, currently, 48 per cent of the male deer that are culled are shot out of season. I trust that, after removing the bureaucratic burden and the burden on the public purse, those professionals will continue to carry out that work in that way.

Rather than listen to anecdotal evidence on animal welfare issues, we must listen to the evidence and advice given by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, the SSPCA and OneKind, as they are independent and are all experts in the matter.

I might be mixing two things together but, if such work is done, will there be research on the evidence gaps for water that is not being tested?

Another part of this SSI is about land managers being able to control deer at night. They already do that, but it is currently challenging, as they have to bring lamps into the forest. Roughly how many land managers already control deer at night, and how will this instrument make that task easier?

My question is, how will the proposed change make the task easier for those land managers?

I am hearing that 2 per cent of bracken has been managed with Asulox, which is sprayed aerially—