Invest to Save Fund award to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: FOI release

Information requested

I am writing to make a formal request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

I refer to the Scottish Government’s award of £300,000 to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to enable further development of working models for a Single Authority Model (SAM) for the Western Isles, as part of wider public service reform (PSR). This funding was publicly referenced in an announcement in which Councillor Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, welcomed the award and noted that the Western Isles are viewed by the Scottish Government as being at the “vanguard of local governance reform”. The announcement also referenced a letter sent in October 2024 from the Minister for Public Finance and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to the Comhairle.

I request all information held by the Scottish Government relating to this specific £300,000 funding award (and any associated contracts, grants, or studies). In particular, I ask for the following:

1. A copy of the tender advertisement (or any equivalent procurement notice, invitation to tender, or competitive process documentation) used for this funding or for the commissioning of any related study, research, or model development work.

2. A full breakdown of all costs associated with the funded work, including (but not limited to) staffing costs, consultant fees, overheads, and any other expenditure lines.

3. The full remit, terms of reference, scope of work, or project specification for the study/development of the Single Authority Model working models.

4. Details of any conditions, terms, or requirements attached to the funding award, including (but not limited to) performance indicators, reporting obligations, milestones, clawback provisions, audit requirements, or any other conditions precedent or subsequent.

5. All timescales and deadlines set for the delivery of any reports, outputs, interim findings, final reports, or other deliverables arising from this funding.

6. Copies of the funding agreement, grant award letter, memorandum of understanding, or any other contractual or financial documentation between the Scottish Government and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar relating to this £300,000 award.

7. Any internal Scottish Government documents, briefings, minutes, decision papers, risk assessments, or correspondence that record or explain the decision to award this funding, including any evaluation of the Comhairle’s proposed Single Authority Models.

8. Copies of all correspondence (including emails, letters, and meeting notes) between the Scottish Government and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (and, where relevant, NHS Western Isles or other community planning partners) concerning the development of the SAM working models and this specific funding.

9. A copy of the October 2024 letter from the Minister for Public Finance and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar that described the Western Isles as being at the “vanguard of local governance reform”.

10. Any information held on the planned transition of at least one island area (Western Isles, Argyll and Bute, or Orkney) to shadow Single Authority arrangements, insofar as it relates to or was informed by this £300,000 funding.

Where any of the above information is already publicly available (for example on the Comhairle’s website), please still confirm this and provide the direct link and date it was published. I would prefer to receive the information in electronic format (PDF where possible). If any part of this request exceeds the appropriate limit under section 12 of the Act, please advise me as soon as possible so that I may narrow or prioritise the request.

Please acknowledge receipt of this request and provide the information within the statutory 20 working days.

Response

1. Tender advertisement or procurement documentation

The information requested is not held.

The funding was awarded following a bid to a central fund and was not subject to a procurement exercise. As such, no tender advertisement, invitation to tender, or equivalent procurement documentation exists.

Under section 17(1) of FOISA, a public authority is required to notify an applicant when it does not hold the information requested.

2. Breakdown of costs associated with the funded work

The Scottish Government holds information on the total value of the funding award and the intended high‑level use of the funding, as set out in the bid and award documentation.

The Scottish Government does not hold detailed expenditure breakdowns such as individual staffing costs, consultant day rates, or internal cost allocations. These are matters for the funded body and are not routinely reported to the Scottish Government at this level of detail.

Under section 17(1) of FOISA, a public authority is required to notify an applicant when it does not hold the information requested.

3. Remit, terms of reference, scope of work

The Scottish Government holds high‑level information describing the purpose and intended outcomes of the funded work, as set out in the funding application and award documentation.

However, a detailed project specification, formal terms of reference or finalised scope of work was not included in this application. To that extent, the Scottish Government does not hold the more detailed information requested.

Under section 17(1) of FOISA, a public authority is required to notify an applicant when it does not hold the information requested.

4. Conditions, terms, and requirements attached to the funding

The conditions attached to the funding award, including reporting, audit and clawback provisions, are set out in the funding award documentation. A copy of the relevant documentation is provided.

5. Timescales and deadlines

The Scottish Government holds information on agreed delivery timescales and reporting milestones.

Reporting is required on a six‑monthly basis. Relevant information is provided.

6. Funding agreement / award letter

A copy of the funding award letter is provided.

Redactions have been made under section 38(1)(b) to remove personal contact details and other personal data.

7. Internal documents explaining the decision to award funding

The Scottish Government holds some information within the scope of your request.

However, disclosure of information around internal assessment material, evaluative commentary and advice provided as part of the process for considering and awarding funding would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and the exchange of views in future funding and appraisal exercises.

The information is therefore exempt under section 30(b)(i) and (ii) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This is a qualified exemption and we have considered the public interest test. While there is a public interest in transparency around funding decisions, we consider this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring that officials and panel members are able to provide candid assessments to support robust and effective decision making.

8. Correspondence between the Scottish Government and delivery partners

The Scottish Government holds information within scope of this request. Documents are attached.

Redactions have been made under section 38(1)(b) to remove personal contact details and other personal data. Information has also been withheld under section 29(1)(a) as it relates to the formulation of government policy, and section 30(b)(i), where disclosure would be likely to inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice, therefore some of the information some is exempt.

The exemptions applied is subject to the public interest test.

We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosure, as it would promote openness and transparency and contribute to public understanding of how decisions are made.

However, there is also a strong public interest in ensuring that Ministers and officials are able to develop policy and provide advice in a full, candid and considered manner. Disclosure of this information would be likely to undermine that process by inhibiting the frankness and candour of future discussions, which would not be in the public interest.

On balance, we consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

9. October 2024 Ministerial letter

A copy of the October 2024 letter from the Minister for Public Finance and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is provided.

10. Planned transition to shadow Single Authority arrangements

The Scottish Government has not taken decisions on future governance arrangements, including any transition to Single Authority models. There is no correspondence or meeting minutes.

Under section 17(1) of FOISA, a public authority is required to notify an applicant when it does not hold the information requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600514050 - Information Released - Documents

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