The STUC overwhelmingly backed a range
of measures to rebuild local democracy.
It will press the Scottish Government
to provide resources to ensure strong
local democracy and to return to councils
greater control over local taxes and powers
to take services back in-house.
Moving the composite on behalf of UNISON
and the GMB, Depute Convener, Stephen
Smellie called for a return to the kind
of local democracy that Scottish Councils
used to enjoy.
“But it is not just about cuts,
changes and job losses,” warned
Stephen. “It is also about power
and aspiration.”
He warned that too many services have
been centralised, like water, further
education, careers, economic development,
police and fire, and in some areas housing
stock transfer. This reduces the ability
of councils to co-ordinate services and
effort and reduces ability to adjust to
local need.
He pointed to the 1970s and 80s when,
in response to poverty councils employed
welfare rights officers and community
development workers to maximise benefits
and to support communities to identify
their own needs and either devise ways
of addressing them or campaign for additional
resources and funding.
“In fact, councils used to challenge
government cuts, not simply administer
them,” said Stephen.
And councils themselves had powers to
raise finance through business and domestic
rates so they could raise cash for anti-poverty
initiatives or to improve services.
“Now council tax has been locked
into a permanent perma-frost. The net
result is that not only local services
but local democracy has been destroyed.”
Stephen called for councils to have the
powers to explore new tax raising initiatives
like a tourist tax or an alcohol sales
tax; and for greater partnership with
trade unions, service users and communities.
“Councils should be agents of change,”
he said, “Setting targets to improve
equality, reduce poverty, improve educational
attainment and independent living.
“They should be agents of democratic
renewal. They should be agents of service
delivery.
“But to achieve these aims we need
to raise our sights. To encourage councils
and councillors to both raise their aspirations
and raise their game and to fight for
local government.”
