Public services work best when they are accountable, place-based and when decisions are taken with and as close to communities as possible. Scottish Government should work with us to avoid centralisation and ensure no community is left behind by embedding local, participative decision-making. Resources must be devolved to communities to address inequality, improve public health and address challenges presented by demographic change.
We are calling for:
A re-commitment to the principles of the Verity House Agreement (VHA)
Within the first six months, we expect the Scottish Government to recognise the legitimate democratic mandate held by Scottish local government and re-commit to the Verity House Agreement. Valuing our role as an equal sphere of democracy is key to improving outcomes.
Councils to be an equal partner in an approach to Public Service Reform which is local by default, national by agreement.
Reform and transformation should be delivered through a place-based lens with a renewed focus on community planning
and community empowerment. A new Scottish Government must support councils to drive transformation locally, and, where appropriate, regionally, to improve the effectiveness of public services.
Civility in public life.
A new Scottish Government must work with local government to improve civility in public life and eradicate the abuse to which many elected members have been subjected.
Removing barriers to elected office.
Continue to implement outstanding Scottish Local Authority Remuneration Committee report recommendations and encourage a more diverse range of people, particularly more women, to stand for elected office.
As part of this we call for changes including legislative support to allow proxy voting in councils as soon as possible. Councils at the heart of discussions around the structure of local government. Structures are secondary to outcomes for our communities and we do not believe there is appetite for expensive and time-consuming structural reform within the next parliament. Any proposals for change must enhance representation and participation and be developed with communities. We must avoid a top-down approach and focus on new opportunities for further integration, collaboration and community empowerment.
