GREENS PRAISE COSLA REPORT ON LOCAL DEMOCRACY
Today's interim report by COSLA's Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy comes to many of the same conclusions as the Greens' report in February.
The Commissions' report talks of a '50 year journey of centralisation... and the creation of bigger and bigger units of local governance' and calls for the empowerment of communities 'from the bottom up’. (1)
The Greens have highlighted the potential of smaller municipalities, far greater revenue-raising at a local level and more flexible cooperation between councils to deliver services at appropriate scales. (2)
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian said:
"This report strengthens the case for a new deal for local democracy in Scotland. The Commission has clearly identified that people just don't feel very engaged with local decision-making and now the challenge is for them to identify bold solutions.
"As Scotland debates whether powers should shift from London to Edinburgh we must come up with new ideas for passing more control to local communities."
1. The Commission's interim report is available here:
http://www.localdemocracy.info/news/
2. The Greens' report, 'Renewing Local Democracy in Scotland' and a summary briefing paper are available at:
http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/publications/