Proposed Local Government Bill
As members will know from the Government's legislative programme, we expect to receive the proposed local government bill early next year, in about March. As always on the committee, we want to be prepared. I seek members' agreement to appoint an adviser, as that will give us time to recruit.
As was said in the chamber, the thrust of the bill will be best value and community initiative, or what used to be known as the power of general competence. We are looking for the committee's agreement that we appoint an adviser who will support us when we are considering the bill and taking evidence. In our experience, having an adviser has been helpful. It would help to have someone with knowledge of best value, although Donald Gorrie suggests that no one knows what that is. He might be right. If so, we would need to put that in our report.
I take it that members have read the paper. Do we agree to the Scottish Parliament information centre's producing a list of suggested advisers, to allow us to be well prepared for the bill when we receive it at the turn of the year?
Members indicated agreement.
The meeting is going too quickly. Something awful is bound to happen.
The committee is missing Kenny Gibson.
I think that you might be right, although that is for you to say, not me.
Meeting continued in private until 14:28.