SIC leader says public sector reform talks timeline ‘very tight’
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) will need to “consider what the best way forward is” amid widespread public sector reform proposed by the Scottish Government.
SIC leader Emma Macdonald also said the timeline for consultation on reform “seems to be very tight”, with the government saying there will be “intensive dialogue” over the next three months with local authorities.
The government announced on Tuesday that it is proposing to reduce the number of health boards in Scotland from 14 to two.
The idea of a ‘single authority’ model for the Scottish islands – where councils merge with health boards – is being pushed.
However first minister John Swinney said in a parliament that this idea could be advanced “where it is desired”.
When the topic was raised in the SIC chamber last year, it was not met with much enthusiasm from councillors.
However it was said that the Western Isles are more interested in exploring this model.
Responding to the programme for government for 2026 to 2031, Macdonald said the SIC does not really have “enough details to be able to give a clear view on what is being proposed” yet.
“I do think the timeline for consultation seems to be very tight and I can imagine the next three months will mean many meetings and discussions on the way forward,” she said.
“It will also mean this will need to become a priority for the council to respond to which obviously impacts other areas of work that we would have been focused on.”
The councillor said it is positive that there is a recognition that islands need a different solution to the rest of the country.
“Here in Shetland all of our focus is on providing the best services we can for our communities and partnership working is vital to achieve this so as we navigate what these announcements mean we will continue to remain focused on this,” she continued.
“Once we have more information we will be considering what this means for us as a council and I am sure it will be debated thoroughly.
“I think it’s important that we really look at what the proposals are and how best we can shape the right thing for Shetland.
“We have always felt that Shetland was best served by its current arrangements as we work well with our partners but if the world is changing we need to be able to consider what the best way forward is and we need to do that as a council, so there’s a lot of things we will need to consider and explore over the next few months.”
SNP Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad said that the government will now need to engage with island health boards and councils to “work out what sort of bespoke solutions” will be available.
The MSP, who is also public finance minister, said “times are moving really quickly” and said public service redesign is a “national challenge”.
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