REFORM of Scotland's public services has been slow and patchy as senior officials are resistant to change, according to a damning Holyrood report published today.
MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's local government committee called for urgent action to address the sluggish pace of reform two years on from the landmark Christie Commission, which recommended wholesale changes to the way services are delivered.
Their inquiry found few examples of bodies working together to deliver services efficiently. In their report, MSPs blamed public sector leaders for being risk averse and resistant to change.
They also warned Community Planning Partnerships – the multi-agency bodies charged with driving reform – "are not delivering".
The cross-party committee said: "We uncovered some very deep seated attitudes and behaviours that will take time to change.
"Our general conclusions echo the consensus of our many witnesses that the speed, scale and nature of the response to the Christie Commission is not adequate."
Committee convener Kevin Stewart said: "We have seen examples of different public services working together, working with the community and working to achieve change.
"However, these examples are far outweighed by those who are resistant to making change and resistant to working together to bring real change into the hearts of communities across Scotland."
The Christie Commission, chaired by the late Campbell Christie, a former STUC general secretary, was published two years ago this week. It called for services to concentrate on preventative measures after warning 40% of public spending went on tackling crime, social problems and ill health that could have been averted.
It also said public sector bodies must work more closely together to counter deep spending cuts.
The Scottish Government backed the commission's findings and handed the 32 Community Planning Partnerships, which bring together council leaders, local police chiefs, health officials, colleges, charities and criminal justice agencies, a key role in bringing about reform.
But SNP MSP Mr Stewart said: "It is clear to us that Community Planning Partnerships are simply not delivering. There is a lack of leadership and poor communications and many are disconnected from the people they serve."
The CBI and Reform Scotland think tank have called for more radical reform, including merging some of the country's 32 councils.
However, local government minister Derek Mackay has ruled out council mergers and believes greater partnership working will produce a "quiet revolution".
A new National Community Planning Group, headed by former COSLA president Pat Watters, has been set up to share best practice among local partnerships.
Finance Secretary John Swinney told a public sector conference in Edinburgh last week Scotland was "leading the way" on reform.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have made significant progress on public sector reform following the Christie Commission's report and the Scottish Government welcomes the importance which this report places on that process and the emphasis it gives to leadership and community engagement as a means to achieving this. Since the Christie Commission the Scottish Government has set out a clear agenda and driven reforms.
"They include the integration of health and social care, college reorganisation, the creation of national police and fire services and our innovative Early Years Collaborative which provides a common aim for front-line staff to work together towards and determine where changes are making a real difference for Scotland's children and families.".
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