Scottish Government

Target 1
(MET)

By April 2004, have in place a new framework for monitoring the delivery of local services through Best Value, to ensure all councils are delivering sustained improvements across their service responsibilities.

The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 provides the basis for a new performance and accountability framework under the statutory duty of Best Value. Guidance on Best Value in Local Government was published by the Executive in April 2004 and for Best Value in Public Services in May 2006. The Accounts Commission has established a rolling programme of Best Value audits of councils.

Target 2
(MET)

By December 2003, establish with local government a new public service improvement function to help local authorities and their partners to share best practice and increase joint working to deliver service improvements, further developing the service over the next 2 years.

The Improvement Service ( IS) functions were initiated by the establishment of a shadow board in November 2003. IS has since been set up as an independent company with a board consisting of membership from the Scottish Executive, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives ( SOLACE) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( COSLA). It has made significant headway in the past year, offering support over a range of local authority areas, including:

• A review of councils' procurement activities for the National Procurement Review;
• Development and application of Efficient Government monitoring processes;
• Advice on recovery and improvement plans for councils who have received challenging Best Value audit reports;
• Care procurement and improving the cost effectiveness of Councils' recruitment activities; and
• Establishment of a National Shared Services Board to achieve a more strategic approach to Efficient Government.

Target 3
(MET)

Provide local authorities with the stability of three year grant allocations and resources to support existing services and new priority policy initiatives.

Three year settlements have been in place since 2000. The current local government settlement runs up to 2007-08.

Target 4
(MET)

Establish by 2004-05 a new framework for local authority capital investment, supporting better investment decisions, long-term planning and increased levels of investment in local infrastructure.

The new Prudential capital regime was introduced from 1 April 2004, giving councils responsibility for setting their own capital spending limits with reference to the Prudential Code of Practice for capital finance in local authorities.

Target 5
(MET)

Review the boundaries of public sector organisations that deliver services to identify areas where the creation of coterminous boundaries would facilitate their co-operative work.

Ministers agreed that individual boundaries should not be changed in cases where this would cause major inconvenience to service users, but that where public bodies agreed on local boundary changes, we would offer support where appropriate, provided change would lead to the delivery of more effective public services.

Transforming Public Services has launched a dialogue across public services about reform of service delivery, and invites views on areas where structural change would bring better outcomes than better working across boundaries.

Target 6
(MET)

Following consultation with COSLA, conduct an independent review into local government finance.

The Independent Local Government Finance Review Committee was established in 2004. The Committee is due to report by end 2006.

Target 7
(MET)

By 2004, implement the protocol which ends the two-tier workforce and protects workers who are transferred to new employers under contracts for the delivery of public services.

In line with Ministers undertaking to eliminate scope for two tier workforce to arise in Public Private Partnerships, the PPP Staffing Protocol was agreed and announced in November 2002.

To complement the PPP protocol, S52 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 required local authorities to have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Executive on workforce and employment issues in all forms of contracting for services. Following discussion and agreement with Scottish Trade Union Council ( STUC) at the end of 2005 - the relevant new guidance, which also covers pensions issues was published in August 2006.

Target 8
(MET)

By 2006, to have secured a statutory basis for Community Planning and a Power of Well-being, issued accompanying guidance and developed best practice in both and taken appropriate action on renewing local democracy.

The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 provides a statutory basis for community planning and the power to advance well being. Statutory guidance and advice notes were published in 2004. The Community Planning Implementation Group reported in June 2004, identifying mechanisms for supporting Community Planning. Good practice is supported through ongoing work by the Improvement Service, a Community Planning Website and the Community Planning Network.

The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced the Single Transferable Vote ( STV) system for local government elections and a new system for remunerating councillors. A Steering Group set up to oversee the preparations for the elections in May 2007 began its work in early 2005 and will continue through to June 2007.

The Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee reported to Ministers on a new remuneration package for councillors in January 2006. Regulations are currently being drafted with a view to all being made by spring 2007. The Widening Access to Council Membership Progress Group, set up to take forward work on making council membership more attractive to a wide cross section of the community, reported in February 2005 and councils have been asked to consider reconsider its recommendations.

Target 9
(MET)

Reform voting arrangements in order to increase participation, including further investigation of postal and electronic voting.

The reform has been effected by the processing of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services Bill, which contains a number of provisions designed to improve the accessibility of the electoral process.

Further measures to improve accessibility will also be included in the secondary legislation being prepared to support the introduction of STV. Five all-postal pilots have already been run successfully.

Target 10
(MET)

Introduce for the next local government elections the proportional Single Transferable Vote system of election.

The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 included the provisions that allow for the introduction of STV at the May 2007 elections. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland are producing revised multi-member wards for each local authority. Secondary legislation is also being prepared on the detailed rules for the implementation of STV.

Target 11
(TRANSFERRED)

Ensure services are available through Broadband technology in the Pathfinder areas of south of Scotland and Highlands and Islands by 2004.

As part of the 2004 Spending Review, this target was transferred to the Enterprise & Lifelong Learning portfolio. Progress against this target can be found in the Enterprise chapter (p.35).

Target 12
(MET)

By 2005, provide online all Government services which can feasibly be delivered electronically.

By 31 December 2005 an average 99% of council services are now enabled electronically. Figures were based on a review of all 32 councils, 10 generic service areas and 46 core services.

In addition, 95% of the 586 services provided by the Scottish Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies ( NDPBs) are currently available electronically. These figures relate to level 1 (online information) of the e-Europe 4-stage framework with progress continuing to be made to further levels.

Target 13
(MET)

By 2006, develop a Scottish electronic citizen's card available to all citizens, which will give them faster and more convenient access to public information and services.

A citizen's card scheme has been successfully developed and the concept is now being extended to a wider range of services and users. Following the successful completion and evaluation of a pilot programme in June 2005, Ministers agreed that the scheme should be extended to support a range of applications on one card. All local authorities are now committed to working with the Executive to develop a national Entitlement Card Scheme (the Scheme). This will be done within a single technical and operational framework for Scotland that provides for national applications to be rolled out alongside local priorities.

Since 1 April 2006 over 900,000 elderly and disabled people have been issued with a single Entitlement Card (smartcard), which gives them access to the new Scotland-wide free bus travel for elderly and disabled people. In addition, some councils have also included access to library and/or leisure facilities on the card.

The next priority for the Scheme is to address the requirements for a young person's version of the card.

This target was superseded in the Draft Budget 2005-06 with a new target: "Provide financial support for the completion by 2007 - in partnership with all 32 local authorities - of a programme for delivering more convenient and responsive public services which encourages the take up of online services to key services and ensures that at least 75% of service requests can be dealt with at first contact."

Target 14
(MET)

Promote Scotland abroad, in close co-operation with the FCO, British Council and other key delivery partners.

An initiative to strengthen Scotland's International Image was launched by the First Minister on 1 July 2004. Substantive progress has been made to date to showcase contemporary Scotland as a great country to visit, study, live and work, do business with and invest in.

In collaboration with partners including British Council Scotland, Scottish Development International, VisitScotland and FCO offices, a range of activities to promote Scotland at home and overseas have been undertaken. This includes the organisation of tailored itineraries for 100 representatives from the international press, a suite of marketing materials on all facets of modern Scotland have been developed and distributed at over 290 events at home and overseas, the launch of a new e-magazine for Scottish Diaspora and alumni and related initiatives.

This target was superseded in the Draft Budget 2005-06 with a new target: "Promote Scotland overseas - guided by the existing European Strategy and the developing International Strategy - in close co-operation with delivery partners. This will include a new project to promote Scotland's international image, launched in July 2004 and running throughout the Spending Review period to March 2008."

Target 15
(MET)

Work to represent Scotland in the EU, both directly and through the strength of the UK Government.

The Scottish Executive's European Strategy, published on 20 January 2004, provides a systematic framework for representing Scotland in the EU. This includes Executive strategic goals and objectives, priorities and mechanisms for engaging with the EU directly and through the UK Government.

This target was superseded in the Draft Budget 2005-06 with a new target: "Promote Scotland overseas - guided by the existing European Strategy and the developing International Strategy - in close co-operation with delivery partners. This will include a new project to promote Scotland's international image, launched in July 2004 and running throughout the Spending Review period to March 2008."

Target 16
(MET)

Expand the constructive role of Scotland within the European Union through collaboration with other legislative regions and nations.

Scotland is an influential founding member of the Group of Regions with Legislative Powers ( REGLEG) and held the presidency of the Group from November 2003 to November 2004.

Scottish Ministers are active members of the Committee of the Regions and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions ( CPMR).

The Executive has bilateral cooperation agreements with Catalonia, Tuscany, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, and close working links with Flanders and several German Länder.

The Executive's influence in Europe led European Commission Vice President Margot Wallström to select it to undertake a high-profile communications project, "Building a Bridge between Europe and its Citizens" - to assist in the formation of a European Communication Policy.

This target was superseded in the Draft Budget 2005-06 with a new target: "Promote Scotland overseas - guided by the existing European Strategy and the developing International Strategy - in close co-operation with delivery partners. This will include a new project to promote Scotland's international image, launched in July 2004 and running throughout the Spending Review period to March 2008."

Target 17
(MET)

Build on the interest the Scottish Parliament has generated by forging links with new EU member states and developing countries.

The Executive has developed close working relationships based on exchange of expertise and promotion of understanding with Poland and Estonia, as well as leading a successful Structural Funds twinning project with the Czech Republic from 1999 until April 2003. At the time of the enlargement in May 2004, the Executive played a full role in the UK programme of awareness raising. It continues to enjoy close relations with a number of new member states through sectoral policy links and, via the Scottish Executive EU Office, with the 10 missions in Brussels.

The Executive published its International Development Policy in 2005 that set out its strategy for supporting countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on Malawi, and areas affected by the Tsunami. An International Development Fund was subsequently launched to support Scottish Non Government Organisations ( NGOs) active in International Development and this is now funding a number of projects.

The First Minister has signed a Co-operation Agreement with President wa Mutharika of Malawi which sets out areas for joint working over the coming years.

This target was superseded in the Draft Budget 2005-06 with a new target: "Promote Scotland overseas - guided by the existing European Strategy and the developing International Strategy - in close co-operation with delivery partners. This will include a new project to promote Scotland's international image, launched in July 2004 and running throughout the Spending Review period to March 2008."

Target 18
(MET)

Engage positively as a member of the British-Irish council.

The Scottish Executive continues to engage positively as a member of the British-Irish Council ( BIC) through productive and committed involvement at Ministerial and official levels in sectoral policy areas and Council Summit meetings.

Most recently in June 2006, the Deputy First Minister ( DFM) and Minister for Environment and Rural Development attended the UK Summit on Environment. At the Summit, the DFM formally proposed that Scotland introduce and lead on a new ninth work strand for the BIC, namely demographics.

This proposal was welcomed by the summit and endorsed, and officials are now developing proposals to commence this work stream in co-operation and consultation with the seven other member administrations.

Target 19
(MET)

Demonstrate year on year improvements in the evidence base held by the Executive and in its use.

A wide range of research, information, statistics and analysis has been published including new material.

Internet pages have been developed to assist both internal and external users of Executive data.

The use of evidence to develop policy is being extended throughout the Executive in relation to the Spending Review and monitoring the Partnership Agreements.

Target 20
(MET)

By September 2004, provide Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics data and analysis at a small area level to inform local and national decision-making.

Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics ( SNS) has developed a wide range of small area data with the emphasis on socio-economic indicators or outcomes. It has also developed the data zone geography which is being widely used, and for the first time is allowing change over time to be readily tracked at the small area level.

The SNS internet site is publicly available - there have been over one million pages viewed on the internet site ( www.sns.gov.uk ) since it was launched in August 2004.

Community Planning Partnerships make extensive use of SNS to develop and monitor their Regeneration Outcome Agreements. SNS has also developed the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation ( SIMD) in 2004 which identifies the neighbourhoods with the highest concentrations of multiple deprivation.