Official Report 229KB pdf
Agenda item 3 is the covenant with local government. Members will note that the Local Government Committee has referred the circulated draft covenant between local government and the Scottish Parliament to the committee for comment. I do not expect that we will want to spend a great deal of time on this item.
I do not disagree with anything that you said. The missing element is the pluralistic role of local government that arises with the involvement of the voluntary sector. It is important to stress that. The Scottish Executive, councils, and the voluntary sector all have their role to play. It is important that the narrow focus of the covenant between local government and the Scottish Parliament recognises the importance of all levels of the voluntary sector.
The covenant is specifically about the relationship between local government and the Scottish Parliament. There are other issues about how each of those organisations relates to the voluntary sector and how they all work in partnership together. However, it is important that the focus of the document is the relationship between the Scottish Parliament and local government.
It is important that there is equality of esteem between local government and the Scottish Parliament. That is certainly what local government is seeking. The Local Government Committee has been at one on that issue. I am glad to see that we have made progress.
With those comments, is it agreed that we report back to the Local Government Committee that we welcome the initiative and are signed up to the importance of genuine partnership and mutual esteem?