Chamber and committees

The single outcome agreements (SOAs) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs, once agreed with local authorities, can be obtained via the Improvement Service website at the following link http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/single-outcome-agreements/.

Funding of £9 million for employing additional teachers to make progress on class size reduction and early year''s commitments was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007. Glasgow''s share was £978,300. The Scottish Government is now providing local authorities with record levels of funding with which to meet the terms of the concordat with Local Government. Following the approval of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009, on 29 March 2009, the total package of funding for Glasgow City Council will see an investment of £3,268.7 million over 2008-10. Annual figures are £1597.7 million for 2008-09 and £1671.0 million for 2009-10.

Glasgow was part of the Public Information Notices project working group and board from an early stage. They were involved in the development of the Public Information Portal, and their involvement has influenced the functionality, and how it fits with business operations. Glasgow agreed with the Improvement Service to be the first pilot council. This will ensure that the systems integration requirement requested by the pilot councils, can be fully tested and documented before roll out to the other pilot councils.

The Improvement Service are managing the Public Information Notices Project on behalf of local government. They will be formally reviewing the pilot testing with the councils involved. This will be to ensure that the functionality of the administration system is as specified, and fit for purpose. Pilot councils are also committed to controlled public testing and this is likely to be via citizens panels or similar groups.

The Improvement Service on behalf of local government are currently progressing the pilot testing for new arrangements for Public Information Notices. The aim is to conclude the pilot by September 2009.

The Scottish Government does not monitor the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). However, we discuss progress on enforcement of the HMO licensing requirements, including prosecutions, with local authorities.

We will draw up a timetable for implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 following consultation with stakeholders regarding the options for implementation and taking into account the drafting of statutory guidance and decisions on transitional arrangements. The increases in maximum fine levels for offences relating to houses in multiple occupation could not be implemented separately from the rest of part 5.

Officials of the Scottish Government have had discussions on various aspects of the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with local authority officials, including within the context of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group.

Officials of the Scottish Government last discussed the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with officials from Glasgow City Council and other local authorities at the most recent meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group on 12 May 2009.

The increase in the maximum fine for operating a licensable house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence is intended to address concerns that the current level of fines does not provide an adequate deterrent to landlords operating unlicensed HMOs. There has not been an assessment of the precise effect of this change on the number of unlicensed HMOs being operated.