Councils and locally elected councillors are the closest sphere of government to our communities. As our lives move increasingly online and the impact of global uncertainty is felt at home, local decision making and community are more important than ever. Our services are tailored to the needs of individuals, families and communities and we are fundamental to ensuring places across Scotland can thrive.
Those wishing to form the next Scottish Government must work with local government as equal partners to empower councils and local partners to continue to improve everyday life with our communities across rural, urban, island and mixed geographies. Without this commitment to work together as equal partners and avoid centralisation of policy-making, we are constrained in our ability to deliver lasting change, tackle inequalities and improve outcomes.
We must work together nationally and locally to avoid a decline in public services, focusing on outcomes rather than centralised ‘input measures’ such as teacher numbers and delayed discharge. In 2023, we were proud to sign the Verity House Agreement [Click Link] with the current Scottish Government, setting out a vision for a collaborative approach to delivering our shared priorities for the people of Scotland that we serve together.
We demand no less than a re-commitment to the principles of this agreement when the next parliament is formed.
