OUR AIM
To restore and enhance local democracy in Scotland.
We record lived experiences, outline case studies, and speak truth to power to;
STIMULATE DEBATE ABOUT LOCAL DEMOCRACY
We believe that decision making on public services should be done at the lowest possible level consistent with financial and democratic accountability. The many changes over the last 50 years have reduced local democratic control of public services effectively denying communities the ability to make provision for their changing economic and demographic characteristics. Our view is that Scotland needs a fundamental reset of the role, functions, responsibilities and financing of public services with the aim of enhancing local democracy. The starting point should be the lessons of the last fifty years and the aim should be to build a consensus within Civic Scotland on how best to reshape the delivery of public services to be fit for purpose.
RECORD AND LEARN LESSONS FROM KEY EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
There has been enormous change in how Scotland is governed in the last half century. Some the major changes arose from the Wheatley Report in 1969, the introduction of Regional and District Councils in 1975, the establishment of Unitary Authorities in 1996, followed by devolution and the election of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. To date relatively little has been written by practitioners to capture the scale and impact of these changes. We aim to record how creative and effective local government has been in adapting to that changing public service landscape and evidence the role local leadership has played.
We intend to capture key events and experiences, good and bad, that have shaped local democracy during that time. We also aim to identify learning points relevant to current and aspiring leaders.