A GROUP of campaigners are calling for a "promise of devolution" to be fulfilled by decentralising powers in Scotland.
Building a Local Scotland (BLS), which launched in Edinburgh on Monday morning, says that local democracy as it currently works is not fit for purpose.
Lesley Riddoch, a journalist, broadcaster and columnist for The National, said Scots "don't realise what they're missing" due to the country's local authorities being so large.
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She said: “Scots are always astonished at the massive size of their councils compared to every other country in Europe, but don’t realise what we are missing."
"Put simply it is the chance to actively fix our own communities instead of watching them wither whilst being governed from afar.
"Of course, some communities have bought their land and other local assets. But escalating land prices makes that option increasingly tough and buyouts often leave volunteers exhausted and oversized councils intact.
"The Scottish Parliament can reverse centralisation and learn from neighbouring countries whose small councils have higher rates of participation without bureaucracy, paid councillors or highly paid officials.”
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At its launch on Monday, BLS put forward a "Local Democracy Declaration", which calls for the establishment of more councils and greater use of citizens' assemblies to fix the issues they identify.
The group points to Highland Council as a prime example of the problems with Scottish local government.
They say that it is wrong that one local authority covers over 235,000 people in an area the size of Belgium – which itself has an average council size of just 20,000 people.
Scottish local authorities contain an average of 170,000 people, well above the European average of around 10,000.
BLS has gathered 14 signatures from figures in Scottish politics to support the declaration, including Common Weal think tank research director Craig Dalzell and land reform campaigner Andy Wightman.
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Esther Robertson, a member of BLS and the former co-ordinator of the Scottish Constitutional Convention, said the promise of devolution would not be fulfilled until the group's aims are met.
She said: “When the Scottish Constitutional Convention unanimously agreed the final scheme for our Parliament, it contained a commitment to decentralise power across Scotland and 'secure and maintain a strong and effective system of local government' which would embody the principle of subsidiarity.
"That commitment has not been fulfilled by any Scottish government of any political complexion. Indeed, a quarter of a century later, Scotland is even more centralised than ever.
"It is time for our Parliament to honour the convention’s commitment and work to build a truly local democracy."
The group draws in support from across the constitutional divide, and from a wide range of fields, including academics, trade unionists, former council officials and journalists.
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Among its leaders are Willie Sullivan of the Electoral Reform Society and David Watson of the Jimmy Reid foundation, as well as former City of Edinburgh Council leader Ewan Aitken.
Other founding members include Scottish Rural Action director Ann McGuinness, former University of Edinburgh rector Peter McColl, economist Mike Danson and journalist Joyce McMillan.
Besides Highland Council, BLS has also found six local authorities which are larger than Luxembourg, including Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute and Dumfries and Galloway.
The country has a population of over 650,000 spread across 116 councils – a level of representation which would, if applied to Aberdeenshire, see it split up into 50 different local authorities.
Scottish councillors are also responsible for comparatively large groups of citizens, representing around 4100 people each – overstretched by standards in Europe, and even south of the Border.
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In England, each councillor is responsible for around 2814 people, while in Denmark they handle 2216 and in Norway 572.
Willie Sullivan, the Scottish director for the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Our research shows people want to put their time and energy into running local communities, but the vast size of councils makes that effectively impossible for most working-age Scots.
"The number of people coming forward to stand as councillors in Scotland is one of the smallest in Europe and we have the highest proportion of pensioners doing the job.
"Yet, the success of community buyouts shows all kinds of people put huge effort into civic life – if they have the power to make real change.”
The full list of signatories to BLS' Local Democracy Declaration is as follows:
- David O’Neill, Former COSLA President & commissioner of Strengthening Local Democracy report
- Joe Cullinane, North Ayrshire Council Labour Group Leader
- Peter Grant, former leader of Fife Council and former SNP MP
- Alex Rowley, former leader Fife Council and Labour MSP
- Richard Kerley, Honorary professor at QMU and Co-chair of Centre for Scottish Public Policy
- Eddie Barnes, Director of the John Smith Centre
- Jean Urquhart, former MSP and former Vice Convener Highland Council
- Andy Wightman, former Green MSP and land reform campaigner
- Ian Cooke, former CEO Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS)
- Andy Myles, former CEO Scottish Lib Dems
- Michael Roy, Professor Social Innovation Stirling Management School
- Craig Dalzell, Head of Policy and Research at Common Weal Scotland
- Angus Hardie, former CEO of Scottish Community Alliance
- Theona Morrison Chair, Scottish Rural Action
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