While there are many aspects of public services in Scotland of which we can be proud, our research clearly shows that with the right approach we have the potential to do so much better. In order to achieve better value for money for taxpayers, ‘Power for the Public’ calls for
- More direct, local accountability so that services are more responsive to the needs and wishes of people and local communities.
- Greater decentralisation of public services so that operational decisions are taken as close as possible to the people they affect.
- Greater diversity of provision, which can mean different approaches in different areas as well as a wider range of service providers.