04 July 2003
An influential think-tank has criticised relations between council officials and civil servants in Scotland.
A Scottish Council Foundation report, Innovation in public services, resulted from a forum set up as part of a joint initiative with BT and the International Teledemocracy Centre.
James McCormick, the foundation's director, said that there was a lack of trust and respect at the heart of the relationships between local government and the Scottish Executive.
He said: 'Clear tensions were thought to exist between civil servants who believe local government has failed to deliver and local leaders who, in turn, may believe civil servants do not have the skills to succeed as change agents.'
Civil servants had 'real frustrations and concerns', he added. At local level, however, there were some 'pretty talented and skilled leaders' who felt they were not receiving the trust they deserved.
The resulting low morale and falling employee satisfaction, he noted, were not confined to public services or to Scotland.
PFjul2003
