Tracker
living environment and their devel- taking resources from one policy shown 24 councils have implemented options for the methodology. These
opment. area to allocate them to another to single status agreements. However, range from concepts of a traditional
“The reporter must also con- support the tackling of any spend- McLetchie countered that although input-output model of the econ-
sider the need for compulsion. Only ing pressures or other commitments 26 councils had implemented these omy, which could be adapted, while
when there is a need for compulsion that exist.” deals (two pending cases being another option is a more dynamic
will the young person be referred Asked by the convener whether recently added to COSLA figures), model that aims to capture a range
to a children’s hearing. If a young inflationary pressures have changed not all of them had yet resolved of fiscal and social interventions.
person is not referred to a children’s since the spending review was con- equal pay claims. He warned that it The tool must be robust, credible
hearing, it does not mean that ducted, Swinney acknowledged is “a significant and potentially costly and practical, he added.
there will be no response or action the assumed gross domestic prod- difference”. Swinney admitted that Rob Gibson (SNP) asked to what
to address concerns. Measures are uct deflator in the spending review equal pay claims are difficult to pre- extent will the programmes that are
often put in place to engage the was 2.7 per cent, whereas the latest dict and that as a result, further costs funded in the draft budget 2009-10
young person and their family vol- inflation figure was just over five could emerge, but he insisted local assist the Scottish Government in
untarily. However, the decision to per cent. He was quick, however, authorities should have reserves in meeting its climate change targets,
require a children’s hearing will be to argue that he did not expect the place to deal with this. to which Swinney replied that some
based on two factors—the young figure to remain the same within the interventions will be specifically
person’s behaviour and whether next year or even nine months. As badged as measures to tackle climate
there is a need for compulsion.” for how local authorities were cop- TRAnSPoRT, change, such as the Climate Chal-
ing at the moment, he suggested
inFRASTRUCTURE
lenge Fund, while other policy initia-
they would be able to “manage
LoCAL GovERnMEnT
AnD CLiMATE
tives will be taken forward across the
their resources within the context of
AnD CoMMUniTiES
ChAnGE CoMMiTTEE
range of government policies.
the position on actual inflation ver- The committee also took evi-
CoMMiTTEE
sus the GDP deflator”. At the same novEMBER 4 dence on Scottish Water Annual
time, he pointed out that he would By Richard Johnstone Report and Accounts 2007-08. Sir
novEMBER 5 not be claiming back any money if The Cabinet Secretary for Finance Ian Byatt from the Water Industry
By Elaine Samson inflation dropped to one per cent: and Sustainable Growth, John Commission for Scotland said that
Discussing the Budget for 2009- “Local authorities are able to man- Swinney, told the committee in Scottish Water’s levels of service to
2010, the committee was joined by age their resources within the spirit its evidence session on the Scot- its customers have improved sub-
Finance Secretary John Swinney, of the Concordat.” tish Government’s draft budget for stantially from a few years ago, when
who was accompanied by Scottish In reply to concerns raised by 2009-10 that the Government is he said Scottish Water’s service was
Government officials Roddy Mac- Mary Mulligan (Lab) about what committed to ensuring that Scot- inferior to that of the range of com-
donald, head of the local income impact the SNP Government’s deci- land plays a leading role in the glo- panies in England and Wales. It has
tax team, and Graham Owenson, sion to freeze council tax for another bal effort to reduce greenhouse gas improved to be now right in the pack
who leads the local government year will have on local authority emissions and to avoid the danger- with the England and Wales compa-
finance team. budgets, Swinney justified the rise ous implications of climate change. nies, he said. A capital programme,
Making an opening statement, by pointing out that households and He said this is why he announced which started slowly in 2006, has
Swinney stated that the financial businesses too face pressures during the intention to introduce carbon been accelerated substantially. How-
provision for local government the current economic climate. As for assessment as part of the overall busi- ever, he added that the commission
within the Budget is largely based Mulligan’s argument that the Gov- ness of government. He added that is keeping ‘a beady eye’ on that pro-
on the Concordat agreed between ernment would be better address- understanding the carbon impact of gramme’s delivery. He concluded:
Scottish Government and local ing the issue of pay and preventing investments, and understanding how “We are pleased with how things are
authorities during the 2007 spend- more industrial action amongst it might be reduced in line with the going. We are not complacent, but
ing review. However, he pointed out local authorities, the Finance Sec- ambitions in the proposed Bill on cli- we think that Scottish Water is per-
that there would be an additional retary insisted council workers will mate change will be a complex task forming well as a business that serves
£40 million given to local authori- benefit as a result of the council tax for which there are few parallels. the Scottish people and we want to
ties for free personal care, while £20 freeze. He said: “We are taking the However, he added that that keep it that way.”
million will go towards developing right action to take account of the complexity will not deter the Gov- When asked if there any con-
affordable housing. difficulties in the economy and the ernment from acting, and that the cerns which the committee should
Questioned by convener Dun- pressure to which households are Government is determined to embed be aware, he said one concern
can McNeil (Lab) whether there subject as a result of those circum- carbon assessment in the heart of its is leakage, on which much more
were any plans to make concessions stances.” decision-making process. action is needed. That is important
as a result of the current financial David McLetchie (Con) moved Questioned on the methodol- for the economics of the operation
climate, Swinney argued that local on to ask whether the costs of imple- ogy for the carbon-assessment tool, and for climate change, he said,
government is “well placed” to menting single status and equal pay Swinney said that differing proposi- adding that Scottish Water was set
understand that the Scottish Gov- have been taken into consideration tions will emerge from the depth of pragmatic targets, but it failed to
ernment is working to a fixed budget when setting the Budget. Swinney academic opinion that exists, and meet those targets. Action must be
allocated by the UK Government. hit back that this was “not a new that, as the Government is operat- taken to do better, adding that after
He pointed out: “If there were to commitment” and local authorities ing on developing the carbon-assess- the committee meeting, he was
be any changes within the Govern- should have planned for these costs, ment tool without a predetermined going to raise the issue with Scottish
ment’s budget, they would involve pointing out recent information had agenda, it is exploring a range of Water’s board. HM
72
| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine | www.holyrood.com |
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