Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thanks very much for that. In a previous answer, Robert Emmott mentioned the heat maps for his council’s workforce planning, which seems like an interesting process. Do all councils do that?

Thank you. I really appreciate your getting those figures, because what we have uncovered today is that, when you parse things, you start to get a fuller picture of what is going on. Would anyone like to add anything on that?

That is helpful.

I would be also interested to hear about some of the key ways in which the new deal with local government could support local authorities in addressing workforce challenges.

Well, that is part of the work that we are doing, is it not? We will see what fruit tree we get later on.

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.

Minister, you have talked throughout the session, and just now, about the fact that this measure is part of a package of 99 measures. I do not know whether you are bringing forward, or have agreed to, all of them; that is not the point of my question. You have also talked about the relationships that you have had with land managers and professionals and practitioners on the ground in going to meet with them and discuss the issues.

It may be challenging for the committee, because we are looking at just a few of the measures in the package that you are talking about. When you go to talk to those practitioners and land managers, are you discussing those pieces as part of the whole package? Do the practitioners and the land managers understand that there are a number of measures that are going to come through over time, and do they see those bits as part of the whole, which we are perhaps not seeing?

Can you explain to some degree what endocrine disruptors do?

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.