Public Audit Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Official Report 611KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning. I convene the fifth meeting in 2011 of the Public Audit Committee, and I welcome to the meeting staff from Audit Scotland and members of the public. I ask everyone to ensure that all electronic devices are switched off so that they do not interfere with the recording equipment.

The first item on the agenda is a decision on taking some business in private. Committee members will see a reference in their papers to items 5, 6, 7 and 8. I will start with items 6, 7 and 8, and I ask members whether they agree to take those three items in private.

Members indicated agreement.

Members will also see that item 5 follows on from item 4 on the Edinburgh trams. Do members wish to split the business on the trams, taking part of the evidence in public and part of it in private?

I think that I am about to say the same thing that George Foulkes is about to say. I do not think that we should split the business; we should have the entire session on the public record.

I second that—in an unusual alliance.

Absolutely. Not to be repeated.

Do members agree that we should take the approach suggested?

Members indicated agreement.

Okay, we will not take item 5 in private. In effect, item 5 drops from the agenda and the substance of that discussion will take place in item 4.