While the Scottish Government will set out the national direction of policy and overarching outcomes, local authorities will now have the freedom to deliver them in a way most suited to their local area.
The main elements of the new relationship are set out in the Concordat agreed between Scottish Government and COSLA and signed in November 2007, which include:
- Single Outcome Agreements
- The delivery of specific commitments
- A reduction in ring fenced funding
- Simpler and clearer reporting arrangements
Each local authority will develop a Single Outcome Agreement by April 2008. It will cover all Local Government and a significant range of Community Planning Partnership responsibilities where the local authority has an important part to play. A key feature of the Single Outcome Agreement is the local outcomes and indicators that will be agreed locally.
The Concordat also contained a list of specific commitments, including freezing Council Tax and improving the quality of care homes, which recognises of the importance at a national level of these specific policies.
The process of developing Single Outcome Agreements is currently being discussed by CoSLA, SOLACE, Audit Scotland and the Scottish Government with input from the Improvement Service. More information will be available as the process develops.
The Fairer Scotland Fund, worth £435 million over 2008-11, streamlines seven previous funding streams, remains ring-fenced for 2 years and will be deployed by Community Planning Partnerships. This reflects the continuing importance of Community Planning and will build on Community Planning Partnerships' work in delivering Regeneration Outcome Agreements. The fund aims to improve the lives for disadvantaged people and in disadvantaged areas, and it will be firmly linked to Single Outcome Agreements.
