Cosla launches stage two of localism commission

10 Jan 14
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has launched the second stage of its commission to develop a plan to localise public services and council funding in Scotland.

By Richard Johnstone | 13 January 2014

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has launched the second stage of its commission to develop a plan to localise public services and council funding in Scotland.

The Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy was launched last October, and the first evidence gathering stage of its work concluded earlier this month when a poll found backing for higher council tax in Scotland.

In its second stage, the commission will hold 11 panel sessions looking at a host of policy areas where reforms could be introduced. The first of these, examining governance and democratic accountability, was held in Edinburgh on Friday, and further sessions will look at issues including local financial control and resources, workforce development and the economy, jobs and growth.

Cosla president and commission chair David O’Neill said the sessions would let communities put their views at the heart of its future work.

‘We have already received hundreds of submissions to our initial call for evidence from people in all walks of life, and from all sorts of places. And what’s been clear is that people really value strong local democracy.

‘But we have no intention of stopping there. Over the next two months we want to get to bottom of why local matters, and what the future might look like.

‘We’ll be reporting the main messages, together with our wider ongoing programme of engagement and listening at the Cosla/Improvement Service annual conference in mid-March.’

Spacer

CIPFA logo

PF Jobsite logo

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top