Chamber and committees

To what extent have they raised concerns about capacity and resource in local authorities to deliver an updated and refreshed framework and to implement the changes that we are talking about on the front line?

I was previously a councillor, from 2012 to 2022.

That is very helpful.

As well as noting the adult disability payment figures, I see that the figures for child disability payment show that, in the first six months of the year—January to June—only 20.3 per cent of cases were processed within the four-month target, and the median processing time has worsened, rising from 91 working days in December 2022 to 102 working days in June 2023. Is it not clear from those statistics, coupled with the figures for adult disability payment, that the situation is getting worse, and that both people in receipt of ADP and families in receipt of CDP are waiting in limbo for decisions? What will the cabinet secretary do to deal with both those issues?

The scenes in Edinburgh and across other parts of Scotland, as described across the chamber today, are hugely concerning. That concern has perhaps been most acutely felt this past month, with Halloween and bonfire night, which appear to be pinch points for such instances of antisocial behaviour. Attacks on police and the misuse of fireworks have seen residents scared to leave their homes. They have led to unacceptable scenes on our streets, and it is right that there must be investigations and assessments of what has happened and why.

We should not see such pinch points within the year as being one off or isolated. As we have heard from colleagues, problems with antisocial behaviour seem to persist at all times of the year and in all parts of the country. I am grateful to my friend Daniel Johnson for bringing this debate to the chamber, because it gives us an opportunity to express the concerns of our communities and to explore, in a constructive way, some of the solutions that we might be able to put forward.

The West Scotland region is affected by antisocial behaviour and violence in many communities. Indeed, I have heard at first hand from constituents about its blight on their lives. In May, there was a spike in antisocial behaviour in Barrhead, and residents felt completely cut off and isolated in many ways due to the behaviour that was taking place in parts of the town. Residents have repeatedly complained about being assaulted in the town centre at night, particularly outside the local Asda store and the local Foundry leisure centre and library. In fact, a group of young people has repeatedly targeted security staff and customers at the Asda in Barrhead and at the Foundry.

Last month, in the neighbouring village of Neilston, there was a reported increase in the number of such incidents, with eggs and stones being thrown at properties. That might seem fairly low level, but just this morning, I spoke to a new young mother, who had found it intimidating when her car was attacked with eggs. Just before Halloween, McGill’s, the local bus company, was forced to suspend services at 5 pm on two routes through the Auchenback estate in Barrhead, because of violent incidents against its drivers and buses. We can see the real impact of such antisocial behaviour, with the communities that I have referred to being cut off.

I have written to the area commander for the police and have engaged with the council to try to work out what the solutions might be. I have also written to the minister, and I hope that she will be able to engage with that correspondence and say what more support can be given by Government to help agencies that are working in the community. I recognise what Daniel Johnson said about the mix of approaches that we need to take in dealing with this.

There is, of course, an issue with police resourcing. Police Scotland will say that it wants to take a multi-agency approach and ensure that it is trauma informed, but that can often be a challenge for the other services involved, which are struggling with resourcing and the availability of staff. Local authorities have had huge cuts to their funding, affecting not only diversionary activities such as youth services but, more fundamentally, social work services. Many young people have traumatic and chaotic lives; they come from families who are not getting the right support, because social workers are always having to respond to crises and are not able to do the more in-depth work that can help divert young people away or to approach them in their own settings.

The Government’s response has been to issue the document “Reviewing Scotland’s Approach to Antisocial Behaviour”. I noted two of its recommendations. The first recognised that a long-term approach is needed, which I think all members in the chamber would acknowledge. The second is that an expert group be convened. I welcome such a proposal, and agree that we should all engage in it, but my concern is that we cannot just say that we are taking a long-term approach, leave the issue to another working group and not see any tangible action.

I am conscious of the time, so I will leave members with that thought. I am keen that the minister should, if she is able to do so, lay out in her closing remarks where that group will go and what tangible action it will take.

Following on from that discussion, I have questions about Government input and ministerial oversight. I would like to hear our witnesses’ general views on the fact that the bill would give the Government powers to review regulators’ performance.

The Government has written to the committee to say that it is considering amending the bill in order to reduce the influence of ministers. I know that the legal profession and the bodies to which we have made reference today are concerned about that ministerial oversight. In the light of what you have just said, is there adequate scope to amend the bill to reduce ministerial oversight?

I will explore that to clarify the point. Are you saying that the bill needs fundamental reform rather than just amendment? Does the Government need to reconsider the approach?

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s undertaking to do that further work.

Does she also recognise the concerns that have been raised around general resourcing challenges and how the work will involve a demand on capacity and resources that are already stretched, particularly coming back to the point about front-line practitioners? What discussions is she having with ministerial colleagues around future budget planning and the need for increased capacity?

Do any other witnesses want to comment on the issue more broadly?