This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Local government finance review team named
30/06/2004
The group who will conduct the Independent Review of
Local Government Finance were named today.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Bristow
Muldoon MSP, Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy
Kerr confirmed membership of the team which has agreed to
conduct the Independent Review of Local Government
Finance:
* Sir Peter Burt (Chair);
* Professor John Baillie;
* Peter Daniels; and
* Janet Lowe
Mr Kerr added:
"I believe we have an excellent team to undertake this
extremely important review.
"I am grateful to Sir Peter Burt for agreeing to lead
the review and to Professor John Baillie, Peter Daniels and
Janet Lowe for agreeing to complete the review team. All
have been chosen for their experience and ability. They
will gather evidence, consider that evidence and then make
recommendations to Ministers."
The Review will examine the different forms of local
taxation - including reform of the council tax. It will
look at the impact of any changes, including the
implications for the rest of the local government finance
system and any wider economic impact.
The remit of the Independent Review of Local Government
Finance was
announced to Parliament on June 16 2004. It's remit
is to review the different forms of local taxation,
including reform of the Council Tax, against criteria set
by the Executive, to identify the pros and cons of
implementing any changes to the local taxation system in
Scotland, including the practicalities and the implications
for the rest of the local government finance system and any
wider economic impact, and to make recommendations.
The Review Team
Sir Peter Burt (Chair) had a long and distinguished
career with the Bank
of Scotland. Born in East Africa, he was educated in
Scotland. He graduated from St Andrews University and from
the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School before
working in the computer industry in California and
Scotland. He joined the Bank of Scotland in 1975 and
became Treasurer and Chief General Manager in 1988 and
Chief Executive in 1996. On the Bank's merger with
Halifax in 2001, he became Executive Deputy Chairman of
HBOS plc until his retiral in 2003. He was appointed
Chairman of ITV in February of this year and holds a number
of other Board appointments.
Professor John Baillie is Visiting Professor of
Accountancy at the
University of Glasgow. He is a former partner of
KPMG (from 1976 to 1993). He has held various posts in the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, is a Member
of the Reporting Panel of the Competition Commission (2002
to date) and a member of the Accounts Commission (2003 to
date).
Peter Daniels OBE has been Chief Executive of East
Renfrewshire Council
since 1995. He is due to retire from this position
in September. Prior to that he was Chief Executive of
Clydesdale District Council for 12 years.
Mr Daniels was also a member of East Kilbride
District Council from 1979 and 1981. He has undertaken no
political activities since then. He has been a member of
the Scottish Records Advisory Council since 1998 and more
recently was Chair of the Working Group set up by Ministers
to look at the role of off licenses in the community.
Janet Lowe CBE has been Principal of Lauder College of
Further Education
since 1996, and is a Director of the Association of
Scottish Colleges. She has been a member of the Court of
Heriot Watt University since 1999, and a member of the
Board of Scottish Enterprise since 1998.
Timescale and next steps
The Review has been set up as an independent, short-term
working group.
As bodies of this sort are expected to last for less
than 2 years, they do not fall within the formal remit of
the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland and
the requirements of her Code of Practice are not therefore
applicable. The exact work programme will be the subject
to discussion with the chair and the appointed members of
the Review Team.