Verity House Agreement: stocktake - one year on

2. Background

The VHA sets out how we will strengthen partnership working to better deliver improved outcomes for Scotland. The Scottish Government and COSLA remain committed to developing and agreeing a fiscal framework for Local Government and developing robust accountability and assurance arrangements as part of the VHA. All these elements are required in order to realise and sustain the aspirations as set out in the New Deal with Local Government and support a mutually respectful and trusting working relationship between Local Government and the Scottish Government.

The VHA focuses on addressing three shared priorities to:

• Tackle poverty, particularly child poverty, in recognition of the joint national mission to tackle child poverty.
• Transform our economy through a just transition to deliver net zero, recognising climate change as one of the biggest threats to communities across Scotland.
• Deliver sustainable person-centred public services recognising the fiscal challenges, ageing demography and opportunities to innovate.

It is noted here that whilst the new First Minister has set out four key priorities these are consistent and do not divert from those of the VHA.