Chamber and committees

(a) The Local Government in Scotland Bill proposes a requirement on local authorities in their role in facilitating the community planning process, to consult, co-operate and encourage community bodies to work in partnership, to promote the well-being of their area through community planning.Guidance to the bill will emphasise that this should include voluntary organisations. We are also considering as part of the guidance, what support is required in building the capacity of voluntary organisations to engage in the community planning process.(b) The formal consultation on community budgeting was completed at the end of June 2002. The Executive is currently considering these responses and the best way forward for community budgeting to proceed.

(a) There is now a Community Planning Partnership in each local authority area in Scotland. Local authorities have played a significant role in the development of Community Planning Partnerships in their areas.The Local Government in Scotland Bill currently being considered by Parliament, proposes a statutory underpinning for community planning and gives local authorities a duty to initiate and facilitate the community planning process in their areas.This will ensure that local authorities implement community planning on a more consistent and on-going basis. (b) The formal consultation on community budgeting was completed at the end of June 2002. The Executive is currently considering these responses and the best way forward for community budgeting to proceed.

(a) The Local Government in Scotland Bill as introduced, identifies local authorities as facilitators of the community planning process. As such, it places a requirement on local authorities to produce a report on what has been done by way of community planning in their areas. The emphasis is on reporting to the community and stakeholders. In its Stage 1 report on the Local Government in Scotland Bill, the Local Government Committee has made recommendations in this area and we are currently considering the contents of the report. (b) The formal consultation on community budgeting was completed at the end of June 2002. The Executive is currently considering these responses and the best way forward for community budgeting to proceed.

The Scottish Executive and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland review of the Excellence Fund reached the following main conclusions:There remains a need for the continuation of specific grant funding focused on driving change and targeted at priority initiatives. Where appropriate, funding should be mainstreamed within GAE.Any future fund should focus on the five National Priorities for Education.In return for increased local flexibility on the use of funds, there should be clear accountability for results.

The remit of the review of the Excellence Fund, agreed and carried out by the Scottish Executive and Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (on behalf of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) did not include a specific analysis of the Standards Fund.

From 1 April this year, the Standard in Schools Act (2000) placed a duty on local authorities to secure a free part-time pre-school education place for all three and four-year-olds whose parents want one. Section 35 of the act gives authorities express power to secure provision through suppliers other than themselves.Guidance offered by the Scottish Executive reminds local authorities of the need to take into account parents wishes when allocating pre-school education places.

This is a matter for local authorities. In meeting the duty in respect of pre-school education local authorities may secure places either at their own hand or by commissioning partners in the private and voluntary sectors. In March 2001, Audit Scotland issued a report A good Start: commissioning pre-school education which offers guidance to authorities on obtaining good value for money when securing pre-school provision.

The value of the role played by the private and voluntary sectors in delivering pre-school education is widely recognised. The Executive remains committed to the concept of a mixed economy in the childcare sector, and offers guidance to local authorities on a regular basis. This guidance underlines the value of working with partners to meet the needs of children and their parents. A short-term working group is currently being convened to consider the commissioning of pre-school partners. The members of the group will include representatives from COSLA, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, Highland Pre-school Service, Scottish Pre-school Play Association and the Scottish Independent Nurseries Association. The group will offer recommendations on appropriate guidance for local authorities to encourage consistency of commissioning practice across the country.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29045. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28945.