We move to agenda item 3, on the single status agreement. As members will recall, we agreed to follow up on correspondence that the previous session's Finance Committee had sent to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities asking for an update on where councils were with single status agreements. As members will remember from our evidence session in December with COSLA, we did not get a reply to our letter. I have written again to COSLA on the matter.
When it emerged from the legacy paper that we had not had a response from COSLA to the earlier correspondence, there was some shock among members. To be fair to Pat Watters, he seemed to share that shock when the matter was brought to his attention. The fact that COSLA has still not communicated with us is utterly unacceptable. I agree with the convener's point about individual council decisions, but that makes it all the more important that we get a response from COSLA.
I suggest that we put a time limit on that—we have powers to summon COSLA if it refuses to co-operate. I suggest that we give it no more than another month or so to respond, and remind it that it is quid pro quo in this game. If COSLA expects to be heard by us, we expect a response from it.
We will write to COSLA and seek a response as soon as possible within a maximum time limit of one month. Are members agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
We now reach agenda item 4, on the inquiry into capital investment funding, which will be taken in private.
Meeting continued in private until 14:24.