Chamber and committees

Do you expect the Government’s response to say how it will deliver on your recommendations, or do you think it will be more finessed?

Thank you.

I will move on to resources. Key message 5 talks about the challenges of getting a clear assessment of what resources and skills are required. The report also talks about how local government spending has gone up and Scottish Government funding for the Promise has increased, but it highlights the challenges of understanding how that funding is being allocated. It is obviously complex to know where the money is going and how it is being spent. On page 32, you highlight the challenges that arise because of differences in local systems. If the children’s services are part of the integration joint board, as you have suggested, it is more difficult to get clarity. We need to add to that the NHS’s contribution. How do we understand how the money is managing to flow if we have all these different systems? While respecting that different areas will want to do things differently—that is important for local democracy—how can we get consistency of understanding how the money is spent, so that we can ensure that the funding that has been allocated is being used and we can monitor that?

It is good that there are really short timescales for some of the targets. Identifying the children’s services planning partnerships that do not have the Promise as a priority and making sure that they do is a responsibility for all of us on the committee. The Promise is not just about the Government, it is about all of society. As MSPs, we need to check that our children’s services are including the Promise as a priority, as it should be, and encourage them to do so if not.

Obviously, funding will always be a challenge. You mentioned that this is more than just about funding. Resources are wider than that. There are some suggestions of local partnerships where resources are redirected into more preventative spending so that the care experience can be improved without detriment to other parts of the system by changing the way we do things. Are there any examples that you would like to flag, particularly for folk listening in, of where that has happened and worked well? I guess that folk listening will be concerned that, if we are going to spend money here, that will be to the detriment of other areas. However, that is not always the case if we get it right. I know that it is not easy, so it would be good to hear where there are examples of good practice.

Thank you. I think that you have answered all my questions.

That is brilliant. I was just checking who to put my next question to when Diarmuid put his hand up. There is also the aspect of more natural forms of flood prevention and how we help people to understand that a wall will not always be required.

I am keen to ask about some community aspects. Obviously, flooding has a major impact on local communities and, if we are planning to prevent future flooding, such work could also have a huge impact on them, so it is really important that all partners engage local communities in such planning. If you went to Brechin in the aftermath of the flooding there, you would have been able to speak to lots of people who said, “I knew that wasn’t going to work.” Clearly, those people did not feel that they had been engaged.

In contrast, in relation to the work that is being planned in the St Mary’s area of my Dundee constituency in partnership with SEPA, NatureScot, the local council and Scottish Water, it feels as though huge effort is being made to engage with the community so that people understand what is happening. Sometimes, folk might think, “We don’t get flooded, so why is this happening in our area?”, whereas other people might think, “Why are you not doing anything here?” How do we ensure that folk understand what is going on and feel part of decision making so that they maintain interest in the long term? I know that SEPA is really involved in what is happening in Dundee.

I am certain that a lot is being learned from the project that is under way in Dundee, but, based on your experience, how do we ensure that what is learned is shared across Scotland?

Could Gareth Dixon or Will Burnish talk about local government’s role in that, specifically focusing on how you are ensuring that, when there is engagement, it is not just those with the loudest voices who are involved but all communities? There is evidence that suggests that more disadvantaged members of communities are more affected by flooding events.

Minister, in June, in the chamber, you re-emphasised the previous minister’s commitment with regard to the Government taking forward legislation in this area. Can you give us an update on where that legislation is sitting and when we can expect to see draft provisions? That would be helpful to the committee.

That is very much appreciated. I was about to come back in when you mentioned organisations, but you then made it clear that you are including people with lived and personal experience. I think that that is very important, and it will be appreciated by the committee.