Scottish Government

_____ _____

Version also available in PDF format

Dear Colleagues

THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES (PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE) (SCOTLAND) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2005

With reference to the above consultation which closed on 18 November 2005, and the further correspondence from Ray Wonnacott on 13 January providing the consultation report and 14 March indicating a delay in any decision on the regulations, I am now able to confirm the position with regard to the proposed regulations.

You will recall that consideration was being given to additional regulations on Public Performance Reporting (PPR) to ensure that all local authorities were meeting a minimum standard. We consulted on draft regulations, which required local authorities to perform two functions in relation to PPR:

(i) To produce a statement of their assessment of progress against recommendations for improvement made to them since 1 April 2003 apart from those which it has been agreed need not be included; and

(ii) To produce a statement specifying when and how they propose to carry out their duties to publicly report performance in the year ahead.

Twenty-eight responses were received to the consultation, with just over half being in favour of additional regulations, a quarter being neutral, and a further quarter expressing a negative view. A summary report on the views expressed can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/10/04135544/55495.

Ministers have been considering the outcome of the consultation and, first and foremost, wish to encourage all local authorities to ensure that they are providing their communities with appropriate information on their performance. Ministers are also keen to avoid the potential for additional bureaucracy and to ensure that our approach to PPR is closely linked to other related policy agendas. Ministers have therefore decided not to introduce further regulations at this time and to hold off any decision on further regulations until the outcome is known of the "Independent Review of regulation, inspection, audit and complaints handling of devolved public services in Scotland" and the work being taken forward jointly by the Scottish Executive, COSLA, SOLACE, Audit Scotland and the Improvement Service on improving the way that local government performance is measured overall. Given that the review of regulation etc. is to take approximately 12 months, it is therefore unlikely that any further regulations on PPR will be introduced before that time.

Ministers do, however, want to encourage local authorities to continue to consider how best to report their performance to their communities. The Best Value Guidance on 'Measures to Support Public Performance Reporting' is still pertinent, and can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/35596/0028839.pdf

In particular, there are a number of key issues which must be considered in the development of a strategic approach to PPR:

· Authorities should aim to provide PPR in a manner which engages stakeholders in the improvement process;

· Authorities should give an honest and balanced picture of their performance, and develop performance measures which are appropriate for PPR;

· Authorities should know who their stakeholders are and how much performance information they want to be given;

· Authorities should publish performance information in ways which will engage stakeholders;

• Authorities should try to time the publication of reports to suit stakeholder preferences as well as their own.

In order to address these key issues, authorities need to continue to develop their approach to PPR beyond the simple publication of information specified in primary legislation and regulations. Giving stakeholders information about context (the factors which influence performance outcomes) may be as important as publishing the performance information itself. Whereas it may not be necessary or realistic to provide performance information specific to every community and every individual, as PPR frameworks develop, efforts need to be taken to manage as well as possible the diversity of interests. PPR also presents an opportunity to act as a platform for further engagement with stakeholders through an authority's consultation and improvement processes. I know that there is significant good practice already within local authorities in the area of performance reporting to the public across councils, and a commitment to continuous improvement in this area will allow this good practice to be successfully built upon.

We are grateful for the engagement of those that took part in the consultation and will be in touch again in due course to update you on the position.

If you have any further queries on this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully

LINDSAY BLAKEMORE

Head of Best Value and Performance Team

Public Service Performance and Improvement Division