Gibson asks do people want decentralised council?
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP, Rob Gibson, will this week launch a public consultation asking constituents whether they would prefer a more decentralised Highland Council.
The consultation, titled "Small Works", will kick-start a new debate about local government in Scotland – a prominant issue in Sutherland during the recent Holyrood election.
It has been a long-term aim of Mr Gibson’s to instigate a debate about the future of local government in the Highlands. The consultation will explore devolving certain powers from the Highland Council to community controlled bodies in Sutherland.
The consultation will ask whether respondants agree that the following should be devolved to a local level from the Highland Council:
- Planning
- Culture and Leisure
- Economic development
- Environmental management
- Licencing
It is also a long-term goal of Mr Gibson’s to see housing and early-years’ education decentralised.
In his introduction to the consultation, Mr Gibson explains how local government has grown "distant", particularly in the Highlands.
Mr Gibson said: "Sutherland needs more community control over the delivery of services
"We have a situation in Sutherland where councillors can decide planning applications for projects hundreds of miles away and where spending decisions are made by officials with little or no knowledge of the places they are affecting.
"Ordinary folk in the Far North feel disconnected from their council, and many businesses and voluntary groups feel frustrated by the lack of local involvement in council matters. This must be addressed.
"I am pleased to be able to kick-start this important debate about the future of our local government. I believe that where local communities take control of services and development, they stand to reap the rewards.
"In a time of limited budgets and difficult spending decisions, surely local communities in Sutherland should take responsibility for delivering local savings in a manner that best suits that community. And in a time of fierce competitiveness for resources, surly local communities will argue for investment more fiercely than a centralised body.
"These democratic challenges are not unique to the Highlands, they are faced across Scotland. This is a debate we need to have in light of the Christie Commission and Westminster cuts, and I’m pleased to have begun this discussion.
"I would urge as many constituents in Sutherland as possible to respond to this important consultation. To order a free copy, please contact my parliamentary office on 0131 348 5726."
