Even before the concordat with the Scottish Government and the financial crisis forced Scotland's 32 councils to reappraise every aspect of their operations, the local government landscape was already undergoing significant change driven by the authorities themselves. The model of arm's-length agencies pioneered by Glasgow City Council, which now runs museums and leisure centres through a trust, and car parks, markets and its IT operation through a limited liability partnership, raises a number of questions about public scrutiny.
Even before the concordat with the Scottish Government and the financial crisis forced Scotland's 32 councils to reappraise every aspect of their operations, the local government landscape was already undergoing significant change driven by the authorities themselves.
