We move on to item 6, which is consideration of the Scottish Executive's response to the Auditor General's report "Maintaining Scotland's roads". Before I ask Audit Scotland representatives to comment, I invite comments from members.
The issue remains a massive problem for all Scotland's local authorities. I note that action is still being taken on certain matters, and I think that we will probably have to return to the subject.
The Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department's response at least shows that it is taking steps to calculate the size of the structural maintenance backlog using commonly accepted methodology. I welcome that approach; after all, without an agreed position, it is difficult to have a debate about the size of the problem and whether it is being addressed.
The COSLA paper is more for information. It is not really under discussion.
I will leave that paper for now and let other members in.
The COSLA paper relates to community care, which is why it does not make a great deal of sense in relation to the report on roads.
I am sure that we agreed to write to COSLA on this matter.
We discussed writing to it, but decided not to do so.
Sorry about that.
It is interesting that the Local Government and Transport Committee will take evidence from David Pia of Audit Scotland and the heads of the roads departments of various authorities in Scotland. Perhaps we should see what that committee will do with the report.
That is a good point. Indeed, that is why we decided not to move forward with the report ourselves.
I do not think that we have anything to add.
In that case, is the committee happy to note the response?
I thank David Pia for attending the meeting. After all, it is always better to be here.
Meeting continued in private until 12:43.
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