The summit in St. Andrew’s House marked the first annual meeting as agreed in the Concordat signed between local and national government last November.  The landmark agreement included a commitment that the First Minister and Scottish Government’s Cabinet would meet annually with the COSLA President and Office Bearers. 

The agenda of the meeting was to consider the progress of the new relationship between local authorities and national government since the Concordat agreement and to discuss the way forward.    

The Concordat bestowed greater power on local authorities to allocate funding, heralding an end to ring fencing in many areas, in a bid to allow local councils to cater better for local priorities.

In a joint statement after the meeting First Minister Alex Salmond and COSLA President Cllr Pat Watters CBE said: 

“Today’s meeting sits alongside that Concordat as an historic moment in the governance of Scotland with both the Scottish Government and local government now working jointly towards agreed outcomes under a single national purpose - to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

“Local government now has the freedom and flexibility to respond effectively to local priorities, but it also has more responsibility.  National Government has moved away from micro-managing local government and reduced the bureaucratic burden of reporting to focus on shared outcomes.  These changes give power back to local people, better able to judge for themselves, on a consistent basis right across Scotland, the quality and value of their local services.”

The statement went on:

“There is more to do.  We will not sit-back or take anything for granted.  We will keep progressing, learning and developing.  We believe that the partnership we have established will result in better services, more opportunities and greater prosperity for the people of Scotland and the opportunity to build the more successful country we all seek.”

 

Readers have left 2 comments.

1. Scottish Cabinet and COSLA hold first official meeting
Chris Bartter, Unregistered

'Power back to local people!!!' By taking away local government's final power to raise their own funding!!! Pah!

Posted 2008-06-11 15:21:02

2. Scottish Cabinet and COSLA hold first official meeting
sisyphus, Unregistered

A pity this freedom and flexibility doesn't include the freedom to set council tax levels as required without financial penalties. The principal effect of the concordat to date appears to be a reduction in budgets for vital services such as education and grants to volutary organisations.

Posted 2008-06-11 16:06:18

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