Insights from the Solace Scotland Conference 2024: “Looking inwards, outwards and forwards”

LGIU was delighted to attend the Solace Scotland Conference 2024 at the beautiful Melville Castle Hotel. In this article, we offer some reflections on what was discussed and opportunities for the next steps that were identified by delegates.

As you would expect from a local government conference, the ground covered over the two days was huge. Topics included financial sustainability, tackling child poverty, demystifying AI, the promise at Midpoint, the launch of Scotland’s Local Government Workforce Report, the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service and much more.

LGIU’s COO Heather Yedigaroff was a panellist at the Financial Sustainability session Chaired by David Robertson, CEO of Scottish Borders Council, with Owen Mapley from CIPFA, Jo Armstrong of the Accounts Commission and Martin Booth, Exec Director of Finance at Glasgow City Council. Heather presented research that includes an international lens through which local authorities can compare how public services are financed at a local level in their own country and other jurisdictions. This unique international finance research from LGIU’s Local Democracy Research Centre (LDRC) asks the question “how could local government finance be different?” and provides solutions that have been proven to work. Our research demonstrates that the system of Scottish local government finance means that councils have low levels of control and flexibility, and this combined with increased service pressures is presenting huge challenges. These challenges can only be truly alleviated through a wholesale change in the system to guarantee funding matches need and embed financial autonomy.

Whilst it is difficult to pick highlights from the two days, moments that particularly stood out included Ryan McShane – a care experienced person – sharing his personal experience and motivation for working for change in the promise session and urging the local government leaders in the room: “let’s remobilise”

Susanne Millar (Glasgow City Council CEO) challenged colleagues in the room to “put that poverty lens over everything we do, including economic development.” She called on them to lead with courage, engage in proper collaboration, effectively use data, and ultimately be uncomfortable that we’re living in a country with such high levels of child poverty.

Many speakers highlighted the need to look at processes that are constraining local authorities’ autonomy, which in turn stifles their ability to meet the needs of the communities they diligently serve.

There was a consensus that the challenges facing local authorities are now well understood and that now is the time to act. A call to action was issued across all public services.

However, the Programme for Government failed to adequately recognise local government’s vital role in delivering the priorities identified. The upcoming budget announcements in October and December mean that now really is the time for local government to lead honest and bold conversations with central governments. They must besupported to understand the financial pressure local authorities face, because the resultant, unavoidable strain on service provision exacerbates the challenges that communities face; challenges both local and central government are seeking to overcome.

So what actions can local authorities take now?

CEOs noted that Scotland’s unique strength is that they have the opportunity to gather at various events and via professional organisations, including the annual Solace Scotland conference. These channels for discussion are hugely important for sharing ideas, learning, and experience and facilitating genuine transformation.

There were practical suggestions to drive forward the demand for more financial sustainability for public services. One idea was that local authorities should work together to ensure that budgets and reserves are presented in a consistent and clear way. This would enable all councillors and other public sector bodies, including the Scottish Government, to have a better understanding of local authority budgets, which in turn would increase understanding of the mounting pressures, year-on-year, that councils face. LGIU is ready to assist with this project.

Additionally, Jo Armstrong (Accounts Commission) encouraged councils to continue to ‘tell their story to their communities’, so they can better understand where the money goes and that council tax revenues are a relatively small part of local government funding.

Finally, there were repeated calls for courage, and compassionate and collaborative leadership with a strong recognition of the impact local government has on people’s everyday lives. Owen Mapley spoke for many when he talked about the “privilege it is to serve our communities and keep our services running as well as we can”.

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LGIU will continue to advocate for and support local government every step of the way; to quote our COO Heather Yedigaroff: “LGIU Scotland wants to make it a little bit easier to walk in your shoes”. 

Watch this space for our upcoming finance reports, briefings and events.

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