Item 4 is the committee’s consideration of its approach to developing a work programme. I refer members to the paper from the clerk and the previous committee’s legacy paper, which I hope everyone has read. Does anyone have any comments on the legacy paper?
It is a very good legacy paper, and a good starting point for the new committee. I pay tribute to the previous committee for all its hard work on the paper.
Are there any other comments on the paper?
There are quite a few items in it that I would like us to look at. Are we going to discuss that today?
Not really. We will go through the approach to the work programme next week, and decide on our full work programme at an away day—which will not really be an away day, as we will all be here in this building in Edinburgh. The idea is that we have a full day in which we take a more informal approach and sit down and discuss what the committee’s priorities—over and above what we must do in terms of budget scrutiny—should be. I want all members to feel completely free to offer their ideas and suggestions for that day. I am happy to take any comments that you wish to make in the meantime—there is no bar on that.
I am happy to leave it at that just now, as long as we can discuss the items in the legacy paper that I would like us to discuss on our away day.
Are members content for the clerks to produce an approach paper for a business planning day and scrutiny of the spending review and draft budget for 2012-13? We will consider that paper in private if the committee agrees.
While we are on that subject, I suggest that, as people have holidays and other commitments, we look for a day in the week commencing Monday 22 August, although I am flexible if that does not suit everyone. Members do not have to decide immediately, but I ask you to get back to me—copying in Jim Johnston—with suggested dates or any dates that do not suit you. I want all seven members to be present on the away day, and it is not always easy to achieve that. The earlier you can tell us the dates on which you are not available, the better it will suit the smooth progress of the away day.
Do you mind if we go back to the legacy paper? My understanding is that some sort of report will come out next week. I am new to the committee, and the only information that I have is the legacy paper that we are discussing. Will that be carried forward in total? Will the whole paper be part of the discussion?
Yes, in my view it should. As convener I want to ensure that everyone is fully able to discuss whatever they wish to in a finance context. I have no intention of limiting discussion on any item. We certainly wish to take the paper forward but, as it is the first meeting, we are taking a softly-softly approach. Once we are past the recess, the committee meetings will be quite intense and will last several hours, and there will be a lot of detail to discuss.
Previous
Deputy ConvenerNext
Budget Adviser