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LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE (LGFRC)

MINUTES OF THIRTEENTH MEETING: 07 JULY 2005, ST. ANDREWS HOUSE, EDINBURGH

Present:

Committee
Sir Peter Burt, Chairman
Peter Daniels OBE, Member
Janet Lowe CBE, Member

In Attendance:
Kenneth McKay CBE, Specialist Adviser to the Committee
David Milne, Secretary to the Committee
Stewart Barrie, Assistant Secretary to the Committee
Emma Lindsell, HM Treasury*
Clare Roberts, HM Treasury*
Mark Parkinson, HM Treasury*
Toni Paine, HM Revenue and Customs*

(* for Item 4)

1. Apologies
1.1 Apologies were received from Professor John Baillie.

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
2.1 The draft minutes of the meeting on 23 June were agreed.

3. Matters Arising
3.1 The Committee finalised a list of issues it was interested in pursuing with Scottish Water when they submit formal evidence on 18 July. It was agreed that in common with all the public bodies due to attend oral evidence sessions, Scottish Water should be given advance sight of the questions they are likely to be asked.

4. Meeting with HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs
4.1 The Committee welcomed representatives of HM Treasury and HM Revenues and Customs. There were informal discussions that covered a range of issues; including operational requirements for, and detailed features of, a Local Income Tax and Local Sales Tax.

5. Public Engagement
5.1 The Committee considered a draft script for use in the proposed quantitative survey of public opinion due to take place in late Summer/Early Autumn.
5.2 Also under consideration was a draft specification for a Deliberative Focus Group, which will form the basis for the qualitative research the Committee wishes to undertake in the Autumn. The Committee suggested a number of minor changes to the document.

6. Any other Business
6.1 A member proposed commissioning a detailed history of Local Government Finance of Scotland for inclusion in the final report.


Summary of action points:

• Secretariat to advise Scottish Water of questions in for oral evidence session on 18 July sessions.
• Secretariat to finalise details of quantitative survey of public opinion.
• Secretariat to forward Committee's comments on qualitative research to (Stephen Sinclair of) Analytical Services Division.
• Secretariat to investigate commissioning detailed history of local government finance in Scotland.

Local Government Finance Review Committee
Secretariat
July 2005