Building a Local Scotland

Building a Local Scotland (buildlocal.scot) is inviting MSPs, civic organisations, campaigners, academics and community representatives to join us for a discussion in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 October at 1pm in Committee Room 1 of the Scottish Parliament.

We believe there is now an opportunity to rethink how Scotland is governed so that the next phase of local government reform upgrades our democracy, rather than merging councils and further centralising power.

There is an alternative. Across much of Europe, smaller, locally accountable councils play a much greater role in delivering essential services, while larger organisations focus on strategic functions and major regional services. Scotland could learn from these approaches and explore how stronger local institutions might improve accountability, participation and public services.

The experience of Scotland's islands also demonstrates that different models are possible. Over the past quarter of a century, the Scottish Parliament has transformed governance in Scotland. Yet many of the decisions and services that most directly affect people’s everyday lives remain distant from the communities they serve.

At the same time, Scotland has seen powers and responsibilities become increasingly concentrated in national institutions and larger public bodies.

The event will explore the future of democratic renewal in Scotland and ask a fundamental question: what should the next phase of devolution look like?

Speakers include:

• Neal Lawson, Compass
• Lesley Riddoch, Writer and Director of Nordic Horizons
• Dave Watson, Director, Jimmy Reid Foundation
• Joyce McMillan, Journalist
• Ewan Aitken, former council leader, City of Edinburgh Council

The discussion will consider how a new settlement for local democracy could:

• Strengthen participation and democratic engagement
• Give communities greater influence over the decisions and services that affect them
• Reverse the long-term drift towards centralisation
• Support the creation of powerful City, town, island and local councils across Scotland
• Help rebuild trust in politics by bringing decision-making closer to communities

This is intended as an open and constructive discussion, bringing together different perspectives on how we can build a more democratic, locally accountable Scotland.