Chamber and committees

The committee welcomes the fact that you have put on the record that the Government intends to introduce a local democracy bill. I hear what you say with regard to people knowing that their voices have been heard. However, one of the fundamental things that we have heard is that there are many concerns about where powers will actually reside. The Parliament voted for the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, which looks to ensure that local government powers are respected.

It is difficult for the committee to understand the Government’s approach, given that there seems to be a fundamental contradiction between a national care service and those other workstreams that look to the protection of local government’s powers. Do you have any view on that contradiction?

From what we have heard this morning, it sounds as though a lot of the work that is being undertaken is quite organic, so I want to ask about the specific role of community councils. What should be improved about their role, and how could their role be strengthened or changed? I suppose that I should start with Rona Mackay, as you are on the community council.

What is COSLA’s understanding of the timetable for the future local governance review work? Do you think that that will be impacted by next year’s local government elections?

In its programme for government, the Government set out two key bills—a local democracy bill and a community wealth building bill. What would COSLA like to see in those bills, and what discussions have you had on them so far?

During the passage of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, for example, we discussed the need for recognition of the role of local government. With regard to the views that COSLA has expressed on the proposed national care service, do you think that such a service might, by centralising some aspects of care, undermine the opportunity to give more powers to local democracy?

I was asking how the role of community councils could be improved or changed—

Good morning. I will carry on that line of questioning. What work has been undertaken to identify those with the greatest unmet need? Specifically, has there been work with charities such as Children’s Hospices Across Scotland to see whether we can encourage people to come forward? I understand what the minister said about it being early days for this benefit, but is the Government actively looking at doing such work?

Thank you for that, but my line of questioning was more to do with those who might not currently be in receipt of benefits but who would benefit from this. It is, I think, a question about unmet need, and it might be useful if we reached out to those third sector organisations that are actively raising the issue with MSPs across the parties, to find out and scope how we can increase and extend potential uptake.

Thank you for that. Keeping alfresco dining going can also help to support our winter clothes industry.

Those are all the questions that I have for that section, convener, but I hope that I can come in again on theme 5 in the Scottish Parliament information centre paper.

My point is more on the back of Elena Whitham’s question. Paul Togneri mentioned that 400 pubs—that is 10 per cent of the total number of Scottish pubs—failed during the pandemic. Through the small business bonus scheme, rates relief is in place for rateable values of up to £15,000, so smaller businesses with smaller premises would not necessarily benefit from other measures. In the panel’s experience, what sort of businesses failed during the pandemic? Is there a connection with their rateable value? I namechecked Paul Togneri, so perhaps we should start with him.

I have a few questions about what local government can do to support you. On the effective use of resources, the Scottish Government stated in the programme for government:

“Ruling out COVID-19 appeals will ensure that the limited public resources that are available are efficiently targeted to support the most affected businesses and sectors in the recovery period.”

Beyond MCC, what else do you think that local authorities could be doing to support you? I will start with Colin Wilkinson, who touched on the poundage rate earlier.