This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Direct service providers face up to challenges and opportunities
11/02/1999
The Scottish Parliament is both a challenge and an opportunity for local government. The Parliament will focus heavily on the performance of councils but it will be a real opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of responsive local government, Scottish Local Government Minister, Henry McLeish said today.
Speaking at the Scottish Association of Direct Labour Organisations Building Division seminar in Peebles, Mr McLeish said:
"The Scottish Parliament will focus the agenda on councils as never before. It will increase the demands to make real improvements in services and modernise all aspects of their work to meet the public's aspirations and win back their confidence. Effective partnership between local and central government is essential if we are to achieve this aim. Councils must continue to grasp the opportunities offered by the modernisation agenda and Best Value."
"Modernisation is required particularly in direct service provision. Structures and attitudes need to change so that the recent problems in DLO/DSOs will not repeated. Councils must decide what risks they can accept and how best they can be managed. Best Value provides the means, and councils must use this framework to find innovative and cost-effective ways of delivering high quality services at a price council tax payers can afford."
"ADLO has skills, experience and information that can assist the process of modernising councils, improving services, and building the strong partnership between the new Parliament and councils that is needed if we are to achieve our aims.
BACKGROUND
ADLO was formed in the early 1980s to help local authorities respond to the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering. They provide members with a range of information, advisory and lobbying services and, through a consultancy arm, help councils manage all stages of the competition process. ADLO have a Scottish branch (Scottish ADLO) comprising of a number of groups including the building division.
News Release: 0297/99
11 February 1999