Title

BUSINESS

Local authority business provision 'lacks transparency' - MSPs

Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment’.

Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment'.

Business Gateway was handed over by the Scottish Government to local authority control in 2008.

The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee today said it was concerned about the lack of accountability for the remit and performance of Business Gateway.

It also argued it was ‘unacceptable' that there was limited transparency around budgets and performance.

Committee convenor Gordon Lindhurst said: ‘There is a lack of alignment, transparency and accountability in Business Gateway, and we found it unacceptable that local authorities do not consistently record and publish targets or financial information.'

BUSINESS

Strategic authorities: Staying off the ropes

By Dan Peters | 29 September 2026

Dan Peters assesses Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority’s progress under mayor Luke Campbell, and asks how new strategic authorities can get off to a ...

BUSINESS

Replumbing Britain's growth model: how to unlock place-based investment

By Katie Johnston | 03 September 2026

Katie Johnston looks at unlocking place-based investment by giving local leaders greater capital control.

BUSINESS

Quango conundrum

By Ann McGauran | 27 August 2026

Rewiring the State promises a serious look at whether arm’s-length bodies’ powers and funding should be handed to local leaders or returned to ministerial d...

BUSINESS

Nobody ever voted for a map

By Ben Page | 17 August 2026

Rewiring the State offers the most significant shift in local government for a generation, but there is still a lot that has been left unwritten, says Ben Page.

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->