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There are three key strands to the Verity house agreement, one of which is sustainable public services. Who has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that those services remain sustainable? What is a sustainable service, if pay inflation reaches the point where public services stop being provided? Are we talking about services reaching a level at which Government and councils say, “We can provide X, Y and Z sustainably, but A, B and C will have to go,” or are we talking about sustaining the existing level of service? How is pay inflation impacting on that?

I want to touch on cruise ship stays, which have been omitted from the bill. I know that the Government is considering that in further discussions about the new deal. Why have cruise ship stays specifically been omitted, considering that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities called for their inclusion, which is commonplace in other European cities?

I can see the attraction in the inclusion of cruise ships, because clearly some local authorities would benefit to a much greater extent from a cruise ship levy than they ever would from a levy on overnight stays on land. Barcelona has answered such questions. I appreciate that you are talking about different questions, but other areas have answered them. Has there been any work done with other places that have introduced a similar levy? As I said, areas of this country could benefit massively from it.

Thanks.

Mr St Clair—did I hear correctly from the convener that you are COSLA’s solicitor?

I am sorry. That is fine. I misheard that at the start. I was going to ask whether there is a view on the matter from COSLA.

Before my second question, which is about exemptions, I declare an interest as convener of the cross-party group on carers.

Under the bill, local authorities would be able to provide exemptions, and there is also provision for national exemptions. Why was it not considered appropriate to include at the outset an exemption for people who travel for hospital care or to provide care? I am thinking in particular about parents who stay in hotels to be close to their sick kids in hospital.

Okay. Thank you.

Do you have any indication of why that variability exists? Is that because of structural issues, or is it purely about personnel issues?

Carol Calder touched on absence and talked about planned work. Is there any indication already that the sickness absence level in 2021-22, which I think was the highest on record, was purely pandemic driven or was driven by the burden that we put on council staff in asking them to do more with diminishing resources? Before you start that detailed work, is there any early indication of why sickness absence is at that level and whether you expect that to come down as we ease out of the pandemic?

Is it even going to be possible to deliver some of the changes that we are talking about with sickness absence levels as they are right now?

Good morning. The Accounts Commission’s local government overview 10 years ago talked about how

“Councillor involvement in performance, improvement and governance is crucial”.

Is the experience of leadership in councils by councillors driving councils to improve performance and become more efficient and effective? When I talk to councillors—particularly longer-serving councillors—they speak with real regret about how their councils are more officer led than councillor led. What are your reflections on leadership among elected members in councils?