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LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE (LGFRC)

MINUTES OF 17th MEETING: 25 NOVEMBER 2005, ST ANDREWS HOUSE, EDINBURGH

Present:

Committee:
Sir Peter Burt, Chairman
Professor John Baillie, Member
Peter Daniels OBE, Member
Dr Janet Lowe CBE, Member

In Attendance:
David Milne, Secretary to the Committee
Stewart Barrie, Assistant Secretary to the Committee
Simon Braunholtz, MORI Scotland
Sara Davidson, MORI Scotland
Professor Arthur Midwinter

Apologies:
Kenneth McKay CBE, Specialist Adviser to the Committee


1. Discussion with MORI Scotland
1.1 The Committee Committee received a presentation from Sara Davidson and Simon Braunholtz of MORI Scotland about the results of the quantitative public survey undertaken on behalf of the Committee. MORI Scotland had produced a draft report on the results of this survey, which they were now refining.

2. Discussion with Professor Arthur Midwinter on A Brief History of Local Government Finance in Scotland
2.1 The Committee welcomed Professor Midwinter for a discussion about the "Brief History of Local Government Finance in Scotland" paper he had produced for the Committee.

3. Statistical Modelling Proposals
3.1 The Committee considered its likely statistical needs and agreed upon a set of information on which it would want to obtain such data as could be made available. The Secretariat would liaise with professional officials in the Scottish Executive's Analytical Services Division about whether and how this data could be provided. The Committee was clear that the analysis of this information would have to be conducted in a way that protected its independence from the Executive.

4. Any Other Business
4.1 The Committee agreed the following meeting dates (with the meeting arranged for 5 December being cancelled)

• Friday 16 December
• Friday 6 January
• Monday 6 February
• Friday 3 March
• Friday 27 March

Summary of action points:

• Secretariat to liaise with MORI Scotland over the finalisation of their report.
• Secretariat to liaise with Executive officials over the availability and provision of information requested by the Committee.

Local Government Finance Review Committee
Secretariat
December 2005