Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2006 (SSI 2006/29)

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 4:31 pm on 8 February 2006.

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Photo of Sylvia Jackson Sylvia Jackson Labour 4:31, 8 February 2006

I am sorry, but I must make some progress. I have a lot to say.

We need a positive climate in which everyone can find practical solutions that address problems of local government finance. A number of speakers mentioned equal pay and single status agreements. Such on-going issues must be discussed and I was pleased to hear the minister reaffirm his commitment to having an on-going dialogue about the 2007-08 settlement.

Many local authorities have adopted certain sensible Executive proposals such as management efficiency saving. For example, in my constituency, Stirling Council has introduced a call centre to streamline inquiries and has piloted several measures including e-procurement to save money when sourcing goods from suppliers. Best-value regimes are a feature of local government audit and such audits will continue to be carried out to find financial savings from service delivery, especially in smaller authorities, such as Stirling Council, to which economies of scale are not available.

I know that Stirling Council has met some of the Executive's current targets. Indeed, at 96.4 per cent, its council tax collection rate is above the Scottish average. Capital budgets have been enhanced both by the freedom that has stemmed from prudential borrowing and by specific Executive funding that acknowledges the growth of Scotland's cities, including Stirling.

However, support for local authorities has to be seen to be equitable and it does not make sense to apply different standards to other Executive-funded bodies. For example, the massive 170 per cent increase in gas costs and 95 per cent increase in electricity costs that Stirling Council faces as a result of a new tender would be fully funded in any health board budget.

Most local authorities are extremely diligent in scrutinising and managing these large budgets and their priority will be funding and delivering much-needed front-line services that are decided locally. In any case, their competence will ultimately be decided in local government elections. I ask only that the minister and Executive spokespersons continue this meaningful dialogue with local government colleagues to meet Labour Party aspirations for the delivery of first-class services to our communities.