On 21 September, the Scottish Government announced a proposal for major reform of local government, potentially reducing Scotland’s 32 local councils to as few as six regional authorities.
The proposal argues the changes would increase local decision-making powers and reduce bureaucracy and duplication, thereby increasing finances and resources for local services.
The proposal sets out a two-tier system, comprising six to ten regional authorities and 120 to 160 community authorities.
Regional authorities would take charge of strategic decision-making in housing, economic development, transport, and employability, while continuing to manage civil defence, education, and environmental services.
Community authorities, meanwhile, would focus on local issues such as householder planning applications, licensing decisions, and town centre regeneration.
Leith is cited as an example of a potential community authority, presumably sitting within a larger Edinburgh regional authority — although no Edinburgh-specific details have been provided.
Councillors would continue to be elected in their current wards, sitting on both their regional and community authority to avoid a new tier of elections.
Funding models are yet to be decided. The proposal states that the government will first divide responsibilities between community, regional and national bodies, which will then dictate the methods and amount of funding, specific to local needs and revenue-raising potential.
However, it was met with criticism from opposition parties.
Labour MSP Joe Fagan warned that “the Scottish government must not blunder into another reorganisation,” while Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett described the plans as a “dog’s dinner”, stating that ministers “are making it up as they go along.”
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student
