A manifesto for Scotland's public services

Section 3/4

Giving people a say in their services

Key to the provision of services for the people of Scotland is the notion that they should have an increasing say and involvement in running the services that affect them.

This means the control of services must be devolved to the most appropriate level. Water and sewerage, the careers service, further education, children's reporters, economic planning, protective and emergency services should be brought back under the democratic control of the communities they serve, as should services provided by non-accountable, quasi-governmental bodies.

Services must be brought closer to the people. To a level where they can be strategically planned, but also where people can have a real, practical say

Local Powers

Local government should be given entrenched powers and the structure should be appropriate to the geographical area and the services provided

There should be increased co-operation at a national and local level between users and providers of services to increase partnership in areas such as community care, safer communities, public health and education.

The role of the voluntary and related sector must be recognised as a distinctive and significant public service provider and resourced accordingly. The need for partnership between this sector, local authorities and the health service is the key to accountability and to ensuring the services they provide are complementary and integrated.

We must establish new, democratic processes to run our Health Service - processes that involve users and providers as well as the Parliament itself. We must move away from a system based on patronage and appointments.

We should increase the use of new ways of accessing people's opinions, electoral reform for councils, the use of electronic media, patients forums, and strengthened

 

 

The retention and redevelopment of William Street Clinic in Glasgow is an example of what can be achieved by users, providers and politicians working together.

From a threat to close the clinic six years ago, a local community campaign supported by UNISON and local politicians has successfully achieved a brand new multi-team clinic involving dentistry, children's health, occupational health, social work, single homeless care, health visiting, elderly care and a multi-cultural support team. It was opened in October by the local councillor. An example of how democratic pressure can deliver a service.

local health councils. And increase people's access to the democratic process by extending the postal vote and by allowing votes to be cast in non-traditional areas such as local libraries, post offices and other central points in residential areas.

Local government staff, currently debarred from standing in local elections should have this restriction removed. Officers debarred from political activity should have that democratic right restored.

Local councils must regain the power to raise much more of their own resources than they currently do. We should return the power to set the business rate to local councils and reform the Council Tax. The freedom of public services to borrow resources to invest (eg in housing) should also be increased.

 

 

Dougie Black is a Distribution Officer with Edinburgh City Council. Carol Black is studying podiatry at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. They have two sons, Stuart and Fraser. Stuart has Downs syndrome.

Dougie has seen the effects of cuts both as a provider and as a user. "The Scottish Parliament must swiftly address the major funding problems of local government." he says. "In my work, and in the community I have seen the erosion of services like school meals and home helps. Our services are crying out for proper resources." Carol is keen that the parliament addresses the proper co-ordination of services. She says "Stuart attends a special school, and has fairly regular visits to childcare clinics and hospital. It would assist so much if the services provided by the various institutions were properly integrated so the various visits could be planned."

Capital expenditure should not be seen as a debt, but as an investment - as is the case in most of the rest of Europe. And the crippling housing debt must be removed from councils.

We must ensure that elected representatives are of high quality - they should be elected by significant numbers of people and have the ability to influence decisions that affect their constituents. The idea of a small 'cabinet' or 'elected provost' taking decisions and excluding a majority of councillors is not appropriate.

Index | More of the Manifesto Choosing quality services

© UNISONScotland 1998

Written, designed and produced by UNISONScotland Communications.

Thanks are due to Alan Wylie for all the photographs, West Lothian NHS Trust, West Lothian Council and the Radnor Street Clinic. Thanks are also due to all the people who agreed to take part.

It should go without saying that the policies contained herein are the responsibilities of UNISONScotland alone, and not attributable to any individual, or institution who co-operated with the making of this manifesto.

Serving Scotland is UNISONScotland's manifesto for Scottish public services. It is published by UNISONScotland, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX. Tel 0141 332 0006. It is printed by John S Burns and Sons, 25 Finlas Street, Glasgow G22 5DS.

It is available in hard copy from the above address and in other forms on request.

CDS/98/20/a

 

 

campaigning for Scotland's public services