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The
Commission on Local Government and the Scottish
Parliament
The Commission has been appointed by the Secretary
of State to consider the relationship between
local government and the Scottish Parliament
and how councils can be responsive and democratically
accountable to their local communities.
Branch officers met the Commission recently
and responded to its first consultation paper
on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament.
Commission
Website
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Summary
of branch's response to first consultation paper
Any debate on the future of local government
has to take account of the massive underfunding
it has suffered, branch officers told the Commission
on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament.
"Cuts over a long period have resulted
in vast service reductions and huge job losses",
said Dougie Black, joint branch secretary, launching
the branch's response.
Here we look at the rest of the branch's response
under the Commission's headings.
Developing the community and local economy
"A strong, vibrant local authority which
responds to the needs of the community by delivering
effective quality services, properly financed
and democratically controlled, is essential
to sustain and develop the community and the
local economy", said UNISON's submission.
"Successful modernised local government
needs a workforce that is highly trained and
fairly paid, working in partnership with elected
members and community groups".
Local government must exist in its own right
and "not be constantly forced into unwelcome
and unwanted change at the behest of central
government".
Spending restraint
With councils only able to raise 14% of their
expenditure, the imbalance of power between
local and central government had to be addressed.
The branch called for an end to capping and
for more flexibility to determine spending priorities
and freedom to develop and improve services.
The uniform business rate should be returned
to local authority control.
Voting systems/ access
We argued that buildings like schools may not
be the most accessible venue for some voters
and places like libraries and supermarkets should
be considered.
The link between a councillor and those who
elect him/her must be kept and there should
be a system "which allows for the greater
participation of women, preferably on a minimum
representation basis of 50/50".
Electoral cycle
UNISON opposed yearly council elections which
would be more expensive and less effective.
A three or four year term would allow councils
to see through longer terms plans.
Debarment of council employees
The democratic deficit that bans 280,000 workers
(8% of the electorate) from standing for election
to councils must be dealt with.
The current law means many of our members are
forced to resign from their jobs if they wish
to stand for election.
Decentralisation
The branch supports bringing services closer
to the people who use them, and giving communities
a say.
Officers outlined how this has been achieved
in some Edinburgh projects, but warned its success
depended on a partnership with the workforce.
But no amount of consultation with communities
would replace the need for elected members to
be "accountable for their decisions and
action through the ballot box". Referenda
should be optional with councils not being forced
into them.
Enhanced powers
The branch supported giving council's a "general
competence" power to free them up from
the current restrictive statutory base and allow
them to operate much more freely in the interests
of the community they serve.
Cabinet/ elected Provost
We opposed plans being floated for a 'cabinet
style' of local government as undemocratic and
likely to result in the authority being driven
by a few executive members at arms length to
the electorate, and chief officers being forced
into a 'political' role.
It would create a two-tier council with many
powerless elected members.
For the same reasons, UNISON rejected the idea
of an elected Lord Provost.
Branch consultation
The Commission will come back with discussion
papers based on this consultation.
But this is only this first in a whole series
of consultation exercises on the Scottish Parliament
and the branch is keen to consult as many members
as possible.
However, timescales are inevitably short and
documents are therefore being sent to departmental
conveners to try to reach members in time.
Copies of this consultation paper and the branch
response is available from the branch office.
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