Economic Outcomes Programme Overview Report

This Economic Outcomes Programme Overview Report sets out a highly positive message regarding the major contribution that local authorities make to Scotland’s economy. The work looked beyond traditional economic development interventions to examine opportunities for further enhancing impact via ‘levers’ that typically do not feature explicitly in economic development strategies. The Overview Report focuses on three major corporate economic ‘levers’ that councils control/influence, in terms of their role as major employers, procurers of goods and services, and asset owners.

 

The report summarises key points that have emerged from the 32 local economic footprint reports, which were produced for each council. The report also highlights a number of areas where there is likely scope for councils to further enhance their positive impact across each of the three 'levers' considered. The SOLACE economic development leads, SLAED, IS and CoSLA have agreed to work collectively to take forward a number of the key issues highlighted in the report.

 

Regional Approaches to Inclusive Economic Growth

The experiences of Scotland’s local authorities in relation to regional economic working have been set out in a new report.

 

All 32 councils actively engaged in the work, which included one-to-one interviews with senior officers and politicians, a series of workshops held around the country, sessions with SOLACE members and COSLA’s Environment and Economy Board, and interviews with external stakeholders.

 

The report highlights councils’ long history of engaging in cross-boundary working and emphasises the key role that local authorities play in supporting Scotland’s economy. The feedback from councils confirmed that, whilst there was no appetite for structural change, there was a desire to explore how the positive impact of regional working could be maximised, including in relation to securing sustainable inclusive growth benefits.

 

The report concludes that councils now have an opportunity to lead and influence the next stages of regional economy working.

 

The work was undertaken by Ekos consultants and overseen by a Steering Group comprising the Improvement Service, COSLA, SOLACE and SLAED. The Steering Group will now consider further work to take forward the various actions set out in the report.

 

Download the final report: Regional Approaches to Maximising Inclusive Economic Growth: Local Authorities’ Perspective

 

Download the brief for the work.