KEYNOTE ADDRESS Been there done that, the Scottish Experience Richard Lyle, MSP

Richard Lyle MSP Central Scotland Councillor – 37 years. October 1976 – May SNP Group Leader 36 Years. SNP Group Leader COSLA 2007 – 2009.

Scottish Council Re-Organisation Regions – Districts – Unitary Council.  Now 32 Councils (Scotland). Part of Strathclyde Region.  Motherwell District.  Monklands District.  Cumbernauld District. Total Residents 340,000. North Lanarkshire Council – 4 th Largest Council in Scotland.

North Lanarkshire Council Already Elected Councillor – Motherwell District Newly Elected Councillor – North Lanarkshire Dual Role Councillor 1995 – Majority Group Selected Council Headquarters. First Meeting New Council Civic Centre Motherwell – Lunch to meet New Councillors Established Committee Structure.

North Lanarkshire Council Work on-going with both sets of officials to merge council functions. Monthly unitary council meeting at first. Established standing orders (all parties involved).

Appointment of Officials Chief Executive – Directors. Established Interview Panels.  Panel membership based on party percentage of council (allow substitutes).  All interviews heard in private, must be seen to be fair. All Political Parties involved.

All Party Involvement No official appointed solely on the decision of the controlling group – Free vote. Pitfalls  North Lanarkshire Chief Executive (SNP Action).  Minority groups would lose confidence in interviews if not involved fully.  Officials elected without full minority involvement would not have a relationship with minority groups.

All Party Involvement  Interviews not conducted correctly can lead to an enquiry.  Officials not appointed can appeal against decision if they believe interviews were not fair.  Councillors can also appeal against decisions (North Lanarkshire Council Case)

Remember If you get things right you can have a well run council. It will take time to merge. Take the time to get it right.

Good Luck