FOI/202600520712 · FOI · unclear
Local Authority Chief Executive salary query: FOI release
Information requested
My understanding is last year Scottish Government transferred responsibility for Local Authority Chief Executive salaries to COSLA. This resulted in a pay review involving COSLA and ALACE. Please correct me if this information is wrong. I also understand, if correct, this review also involved senior council officers, but I am unsure who exactly.
COSLA is not a public body, and we know ALACE is a trade union therefore none are audited by Audit Scotland. I had a conversation with Audit Scotland about this.
Salaries are covered by taxpayer’s contributions. Who has responsibility and accountability to independently audit COSLA's decision making for best use of taxpayer’s money for the review last year and Chief Executive and others salary increases?
I am also aware COSLA oversees salary reviews in general for Local Authorities. How are these salary increases independently audited for best use of taxpayer’s money?
My understanding is - the spending of taxpayer’s money is independently audited.
I do not understand how or why COSLA, a professional body can approve pay increases when not a public body and not directly accountable to the public.
Response
The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the role of each local authority as an independent body with their own powers and responsibilities. The Scottish Government’s long-standing position has been that it is for locally elected representatives to make decisions that affect local service delivery, including in relation to Chief Executive salaries as well as wider pay and workforce issues. However, the Scottish Government expects all councils to make decisions that meet their responsibility to secure value for money.
As such, the Scottish Government does not have any information about which council officers were involved in work to agree and implement a new Chief Executive pay framework or the reviews of salaries or staff grading undertaken by individual councils. Accordingly, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
COSLA is a councillor-led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of Scotland’s 32 councils in a range of matters. Information on the background and process undertaken to reach national agreement on a new Chief Executive pay framework can be found on COSLA’s website: Pay framework for Scotland’s local authority Chief Executives | COSLA. Although COSLA is not subject to Freedom of Information legislation, as it is a membership organisation and not a public body, you could contact them directly if you wish to ask any further questions on this issue: info@cosla.gov.uk.
The Accounts Commission holds councils and other local government bodies in Scotland to account and helps them improve by reporting to the public on their performance. You can contact them directly if you wish to ask any further questions on this issue: Freedom of Information and Model Publication Scheme | Audit Scotland.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Accordingly, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
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