All change for Scotland’s public services?

The Scottish Government has established the Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, Chaired by Campbell Christie, former General Secretary of the STUC.

The commission has a broad remit to look at the long term pattern of public service delivery in Scotland and will report in June 2011.

In addition, all the political parties are developing new approaches to public service reform in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections. Scotland’s public services face many challenges in the coming years, including at least four years of cuts as part of an ideological attack on the role of public services by the UK coalition government.

These challenges are huge and are seen by those who have always disparaged the Scottish public service model as an opportunity to promote their market orientated solutions.

Reform can also be used as a convenient distraction from the difficult decisions many of the challenges throw up. UNISON has a well developed approach to public service delivery as set out in our Revitalise Manifesto.

This approach is based on public service principles of democratic accountability, fairness, investment, excellence and partnership.

However, it is right that we continue to develop this approach in light of the new challenges facing Scotland’s public services.

In UNISON Scotland’s evidence to the Commission we set out real examples of what works and what doesn’t, based on our members’ deep knowledge of public services in Scotland and elsewhere.

Our members will be there delivering services long after the consultants selling the latest fad have moved on to more profitable pastures.

We outline the concept of an active state promoting Scottish values. This includes a new approach based on liberating staff to organise service delivery with the service user as a partner, not as a simple consumer.

We caution against a mere redrawing of boundaries that gives the appearance of action without addressing service delivery.

Branches are being encouraged to discuss this issue with members.

P&I Briefing 243 summarises the issues and a PowerPoint presentation is available.

The UNISON response to the Christie Commission is on the website.

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