Scotland Rewired
Our Scottish Future is to set out fresh ideas on how to strengthen local government and local communities in Scotland – and we are calling for evidence to support our recommendations.
We will publish a new report later this year on how to push power out of Holyrood towards Scotland’s communities, towns and cities, as part of our campaign to support greater devolution to and within Scotland.
We are calling on experts and interested parties to submit their views as part of a consultation prior to publication. Please submit your responses by 30th April.
We want to hear your responses to the following questions:
- What powers should be devolved from the Scottish Government to Local Authority or City Region level, for example in the areas of economic development, environmental planning, and tertiary education?
- What powers would best be exercised through cooperation at a regional level?
- How can the profile of locally elected politicians be increased? Should we consider directly elected mayors for Scotland?
- How can local authorities be given greater financial autonomy and certainty?
- Should there be a move towards greater fiscal devolution within Scotland, and how would this work in practice?
- How can local government and communities be given a more meaningful role in shaping the delivery of public services, such as health and social care?
- How can local democracy in Scotland be strengthened? Could technology or deliberative and participatory exercises play a bigger role in this regard?
- How could the role of community councils be strengthened?