This is the list of documents available for the submission By Bailie Kyle Thornton:- "Council welcomes the recent publication of the Accounts Commission report 'Local Government in Scotland Overview 2021'. Council notes its thanks to Elma Murray OBE, Interim Chair of the Accounts Commission, and her team who helped to compile this independent assessment of the performance of councils in addressing the unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19. Council notes several key messages emanating from the report which include issues around service disruption, community engagement, governance structures and processes, workforce versatility, longer term recovery and ongoing learning. Council further acknowledges the clear warnings presented by the Accounts Commission regarding the financial sustainability of local government funding. Council notes the Accounts Commission's conclusion that funding of local authorities beyond 2021/22 remains uncertain and accepts its assessment that this presents significant challenges for councils in our ability to plan effectively for the future. Council acknowledges Elma Murray's warning that, without the certainty of a multi-year financial settlement, there is a "clear risk to the financial sustainability of our councils". Council further welcomes an endorsement of this view by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), whose resource spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor highlighted greater funding certainty as a means to allow "longer term financial planning for the benefit of communities". Council therefore supports the policy proposal set out by Glasgow MSP, Annie Wells in the Scottish Parliament motion entitled 'Fair Funding for Local Government' lodged in her name on 22nd February 2021 which read: "That the Parliament believes that local government should have its own fiscal framework that will automatically entitle it to a fixed proportion of the Scottish budget each year, thereby enshrining fair funding in law." Council acknowledges the intent of the policy to create a 'Barnett Formula' style funding arrangement for local authorities by which they can expect to receive a guaranteed proportion of Scottish Government resources. Council believes that such an approach would satisfy the concerns of the Accounts Commission in terms of increasing financial certainty for councils across Scotland. Council notes in the most recent Scottish Government budget, councils in Scotland received an uplift of less than 1% in their grant from the Scottish Government whereas the Scottish Parliament's block grant from the UK Government increased by 9%. This Council believes that it is not sustainable for local authorities to be continuously underfunded versus the Scottish Government budget. Council regrets that the aforementioned motion was amended to exclude reference to an automatic entitlement for councils to receive a fixed proportion of the Scottish Government's budget each year, however notes the amended motion to include a commitment to engage with local authorities on the future of local government finance. Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government endorsing the view of the Accounts Commission regarding the impact that the current lack of financial certainty has on effective planning as well as the consequence of ring fencing on councils' ability to respond to local needs, and further supporting development of policy which would create a fiscal framework that would automatically entitle local government to a fixed proportion of the Scottish Government's budget every year.".

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