Summary

  • MSPs take evidence from industry professionals on local government funding

  • Rural economy and connectivity ministers take the hot seat for portfolio questions before handing over to the environment, climate change and land reform ministers

  • The Scottish government delivers a ministerial statement on the closure of military bases in Scotland

  • The government leads a debate on eradicating hate crime and prejudice

  • This evening member's debate is led by SNP MSP Ruth Magure and is entitled 'Celebrating International Credit Union Day 2016'

Live Reporting

Colin Bell and Craig Hutchison

  1. Budget cuts have serious implications for local authorities

    Councillor Michael Cook

    SNP MSP Bob Doris raises the issue of social care and delayed discharges and asks how money can be tracked in the future to help local authorities meet their statutory requirements.

    COSLA Vice President, Councillor Michael Cook, says the cuts to budgets have serious implications for local authorities. 

  2. Background: Council savings 'hit services used by poorer people'

    Scottish councils are making most of their savings from services used by poorer people, new analysis suggests.

    council services

    Local councils run services such as road maintenance, refuse collections and education

    But researchers also found that services used by better-off people were proportionately more likely to be hit.

    Researchers from Glasgow and Heriot-Watt universities and the Scottish Parliament Information Centre studied the social impact of council savings.

    One of the report's authors said it showed councils were trying to protect services for the poorest.

  3. Local Government and Communities Committee begins

    Committee

    Committee Convener Bob Doris welcomes the witnesses. 

  4. Local Government and Communities Committee

    local government services

    The Local Government and Communities Committee will now taken evidence from: 

    • George Black, Visiting Professor, University of Strathclyde
    • Professor Richard Kerley, Professor of Management, Queen Margaret University
    • Councillor Michael Cook, Vice President, and Vicki Bibby, Chief Officer, Local Government Finance,COSLA
    • Eileen Howat, Chief Executive, South Ayrshire Council, SOLACE Scotland
    • Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader, Glasgow City Council, and Morag Johnston, Executive Director of Financial Services, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Local Government Partnership
    • Kirsty Flanagan, Head of Strategic Finance, Argyll and Bute Council
    • Alan Russell, Director of Finance and Resources, Renfrewshire Council 

  5. Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live

    Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live for Wednesday 9 November 2016.

    First up this morning we will bring you extensive coverage of the Local Government and Communities Committee as it takes evidence from various industry professionals on funding.

    Education, wind farm and football fans

    This afternoon in the chamber, we begin with portfolio questions. The first of the two briefs will see rural economy and connectivity ministers in the hot seats. 

    They will then hand over to their colleagues in environment, climate change and land reform for the second round of questions.

    This will be followed by a government led debate on eradicating hate crime and prejudice. 

    After decision time, this evening's member's debate is led by SNP MSP Ruth Maguire and calls on MSPs to celebrate international; Credit Union day 2016.