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LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE (LGFRC)

MINUTES OF FIFTH MEETING: 14 DECEMBER 2004, VICTORIA QUAY, LEITH

Present:

Committee
Sir Peter Burt, Chair
Janet Lowe CBE, Member
Professor John Baillie, Member

In Attendance:
Kenneth McKay CBE, Specialist Adviser to the Committee
David Milne, Secretary to the Committee

Apologies:
Peter Daniels OBE, Member

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
1.1 1.1 The draft minutes of the meeting on 19 November were agreed, with minor modifications.

2. 2. Matters Arising
2.1 The Secretariat was awaiting feedback from Sir Michael Lyons' office about possible dates for a meeting.
2.2 The Committee noted that a meeting with Ministers had been arranged for 20 January. There was no further indication as to whether or not a separate meeting involving Ministers and Sir Peter alone would also take place.
2.3 The Committee approved the terms of a draft letter to local authority Directors of Finance, requesting information about services for which local authorities impose fees or charges.
2.4 On a related issue, it was suggested that the Committee might at some point wish to look at issues arising where local authorities enter into contracts under which a private company provides a service on behalf of the authority, as no standard contractual arrangements appear to occur. A particular issue concerns whether the local authority may face a contingent liability for an action or omission by the company.
2.5 The Committee also agreed there would be merit in considering the effects of any cross-subsidies between local authority services, particularly in terms of accountability for use of public funds.
2.6 On the timing for the launch of the website, the Committee had received advice from the Scottish Executive Press Office that a launch between Christmas and New Year might attract relatively high coverage, at what tends to be a quiet period news-wise. The Committee agreed that the website be launched on or around 29 December.

3. Draft Consultation Paper
3.1 There was a lengthy discussion about the draft consultation paper. The Committee was grateful to Peter Daniels, Ken McKay and David Milne for their work on the draft. Subject to a number of detailed suggestions, the Committee approved the draft paper for publication, which should take place as early in January as possible.
3.2 As a courtesy, the Minister and Deputy Minister for Finance, the Convener of the Parliament's Local Government and Transport Committee and the President of COSLA would receive copies of the consultation paper in advance of the publication time.
3.3 Having considered advice from the Scottish Executive Press Office about launch arrangements, the Committee agreed that the consultation paper should be brought to public attention via a news release and advertisements in the Scottish press. It was felt that a press conference to accompany the launch might not attract much media interest, given that the Committee was in no position to offer emerging opinions about any possible taxation model.

4. Any Other Business
4.1 None.

Summary of action points:

• Secretariat to write to local authorities to request information about services for which they apply fees or charges.
• Secretariat to arrange launch of the Committee's website.
• Secretariat to organise publication of the consultation paper and associated advertising arrangements.

Local Government Finance Review Committee
Secretariat
February 2005