Public bodies are constantly faced with new challenges and opportunities in delivering public services – not least demands to provide better levels of service more cost effectively within the spotlight of public interest, scrutiny and accountability.

The Scottish Government, in particular, has an agenda for radical public sector reform. The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (which forms part of the SNP Administration's 2008-9 legislative programme) is intended to help to achieve the Government's commitment to reduce the number of Scottish public bodies by 25 percent by 2011. The Bill is part of a wider agenda on the part of the Scottish Government to re-define its relationship with local government (giving local authorities greater freedom in managing their budgets to deliver on agreed outcomes) and to promote improved governance and accountability structures and also greater collaboration and joint working throughout the public sector.

The Bill will also enact proposals to reform the scrutiny landscape in Scotland, setting the framework to reduce the number of scrutiny bodies by 25 percent and simplifying scrutiny and complaints handling of public services.

The role of the private sector in delivering public services in Scotland is also the subject of current debate. The Scottish Government has unveiled proposals for The Scottish Futures Trust – an alternative to PFI aimed at delivering better value for money in public infrastructure projects. Full details of the Scottish Futures Trust have still to be fleshed out but it has the potential to impact significantly on the way that the public sector in Scotland does business with the private sector.

Public bodies operate within a unique environment, which creates a demand for advisers that understand, and that can create and deliver solutions that are appropriate to, that environment. We have a strong track record in advising the public sector and continually monitor legal and policy developments that are relevant to it. As such, we are well equipped to provide comprehensive, focused and cost effective advice to organisations throughout the public sector.

Click here for full details of our Public Sector services.