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Strengthening Local Democracy

Strengthening Local Democracy. rkerley@qmu.ac.uk Richardkerley@gmail.com. Life Expectancy on the line – a key factor for us. Borders 76.6/80.7 Yrs. East Lothian 76.1/80.6. Edin: 75.9/80.9. West Lothian: 74.9/78.7. North Lan: 72.6/77.9. Glasgow: 71.5/77.1.

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Strengthening Local Democracy

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  1. Strengthening Local Democracy rkerley@qmu.ac.uk Richardkerley@gmail.com

  2. Life Expectancy on the line – a key factor for us Borders 76.6/80.7 Yrs. East Lothian 76.1/80.6 Edin: 75.9/80.9 West Lothian: 74.9/78.7 North Lan: 72.6/77.9 Glasgow: 71.5/77.1

  3. ‘ … Decisions about ------------are best made by people who live and work in ----------- ‘

  4. Why Commission? • Because CoSLA has a right & duty to enter into the terms of our current constitutional discussion that is overwhelmingly centrally focused • Because our current version of local democracy is shrivelling in front of us [ Health Board Election Trials?] • Because it’s a powerful popular message to state openly that ‘local democracy ‘ goes beyond the current 32 councils • Because it’s right to challenge the increasing trends to centralisation and disengagement that we have seen over the past 7, 15, 30, 50, 60, 80 years…… • N.B.…… Various aspects are inter-related in complex ways • Today: Members of Commission highlighting key issues

  5. Understanding ‘Local’ <> ‘Democracy’ ? Not a new challenge • ‘…No part of our terms of reference seems to have given rise to more difficulty of interpretation – or, in our view , downright confusion ..’ • ‘….. [Local democracy ] is a necessary adjunct to national democracy ..’ • ‘…reverse the growing power of Whitehall ..’[STUC ‘67] • Wheatley Report [ 1966-69] Westminster&Holyrood?

  6. Local Democracy 2 • We are challenging increasing unnecessary centralisation • Consider the case for ‘intelligent centralisation’ – where/when it is made • Consider whether & how we take some decisions closer to natural communities than our current arrangements provide for. • Although ‘Scandimania’ may not be the answer - it does signal benefits of Up//Down balance

  7. More, smaller ‘burgh ‘ councils …….Not necessarily the answer

  8. So – Community Councils? • In any discussion/any company some very mixed views • They do potentially represent a vast increase in democratic influence • Edinburgh – 62 Councillors /[ poss.] near 600 CCouncillors • Glasgow 100+ CCs – 80% described as ‘active’ • 1973 Act doesn’t allow for ‘scrappage’ so : - • Trying ‘Cure’ must be a better option than dragging on; & may be a partial answer to ‘closer to people’ • ‘Powers’ NOT Budgets might be the approach ?

  9. Local Diversity <> Common Standards • Across the whole range of council services there are differences of homogeneity and diversity . • Education the most homogenous service ; people do not fail to get a school place for their child • ‘Leisure etc’ the least homogeneous • We consider there is space for more such [considered] variation & asymmetry

  10. Variations on Education Expenditure per capita

  11. Others less so –Variations on Recreation Expenditure per capita

  12. Asymmetry of Actions by councils – some ?s • Which powers /actions and at what geographical level • E.g. Visitor Tax : Edinburgh ; Highland [ all Highland?] ; Parts of South Ayrshire;Fife;A’Shire? • What other council services / actions are we happy with allowing discretion on ? • School ‘Meals’ = Breakfast/Midday? • What is currently a ‘may do ’ service rather than ‘shall do ’… • Does a ‘country wide ‘ party view trump a localism/ asymmetry stance?

  13. ‘ SO….decisions about Alva; Alloa; ; Clackmannan are best made by people who live and work in Alva ; Alloa; Clackmannan… ‘ Do you/we - really think they are ?

  14. Following Linked Sessions cover this complex territory • SESSION 1: Decentralisation & Aggregation // Universal  Rights • SESSION 2:  Representative /Participative Democracy are linked • SESSION 3 : Getting the Balance of '£' right • SESSION 4: Differential Devolution of Powers • SESSION 5: Local Democracy : Here and There

  15. Utilities And of course

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