SOLACE - Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers

SOLACE Scotland, the body that represents chief officials in Scotland’s 32 councils today published a strategy paper calling for "a strategy of rolling reform built on consensus about the future of public services."

SOLACE Scotland recognize the financial constraints facing the public sector and in the paper argue that the way forward "is to deal with the short term financial issues in pragmatic ways, developing the progress already made in community planning and public sector reform, while building a consensus amongst all stakeholders about the role and nature of public services."

The paper was launched at the SOLACE Scotland annual conference which opened today (Thursday 25 February 2010) at the Crieff Hydro with a keynote speech from John Swinney MSP, the Scottish Goverernment's Secretary for Finace and Sustainable Development.

Speaking at the launch, SOLACE Scotland's current Chair, Bernadette Malone, the Chief Executive of Perth and Kinross Council, said: "As senior council officials, we are very aware of both the financial pressures in the public sector and the widespread view that we have too many public bodies. We see a need to build a consensus on how we deliver public services across Scotland. Building such consensus means a wide ranging debate about what we want our public services to look like in five, 10,15 years and beyond. That debate needs to be about more than just numbers of public bodies, it needs to cover all aspects of what public services we want and how we want them delivered. Our strategy paper tries to start that wider debate."

The paper has been widely circulated to all relevant bodies and calls on the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government, and CoSLA to lead the debate. It accepts "that there is a general view that Scotland has too many public bodies," and goes on to argue that "as yet, however, there is no clear consensus on how to address this issue. The current structures may not be ideal for Scottish public services, but a simplistic exercise in redrawing boundaries will neither realise the required cost savings, nor result in a system of public service delivery that can meet projected levels of demand."

SOLACE Scotland "see the need for a wider debate about the future shape of public service delvery in Scotland, not simply the number of councils or other bodies. That debate needs to be predicated on the basis that reform is not a simple budget solution: rather, it is about ensuring that public services are configured in the best possible way to improve outcomes for local communities."

SOLACE Scotland also "think this is the right time to review the role and nature of public services in Scotland, in a comprehensive way. The review should look beyond the immediate issues of financial constraint, rising demands and expectations on services, and regulatory burdens. It must also recognise the growing rate of change in attitudes, technologies and expectations in the second decade of the 21st Century and beyond. It can be informed by the evidence and experience of the rolling programme of public sector reform."

The paper raises a range of questions that should be addressed in any review, without offering views or proposals at this stage. It recognises that many other stakeholders need to be engaged before the process can develop properly to enable answers to be considered.

Bernadette Malone invited responses from all interested parties and especially the Scottish Government, Parliament and CoSLA.

The strategy paper "The Future of Public Services Reform in Scotland" can be downloaded from the SOLACE Scotland website.

^{For further information, please contact:-}

^{Christina Flynn, Executive Officer, SOLACE (Scotland)}

^{Email: christina.flynn@solace.org.uk}

^{Mobile: 07748 828986}

^{Bill Howat, Honorary Secretary, SOLACE (Scotland}^{Email: billhowat@googlemail.com}

^{Mobile: 07831 506709}

^{Notes for Editors}

^{SOLACE Scotland is a branch of SOLACE – the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and senior officers. It is the professional body representing the views and interests of senior officials in Scotland’s 32 councils.}

^{The current office bearers are;-}

^{Chair - Bernadette Malone, CEO Perth & Kinross Council}

^{Vice Chair - Ronnie Hinds, CEO Fife Council}

^{Treasurer - Alex Linkston, CEO West Lothian Council}

^{Past Chair - Mary Pitcaithly, CEO Falkirk Council}

^{Honorary Secretary - Bill Howat}