Post Election Council Centralisation

[rob murray]

This is bonkers, the Highland Council itself is far too big as it is and would be better split into a couple of smaller councils. Might save money but at what other cost?

Would agree totally, but for long enough its been muted to absorb parts of Moray into Highlands and parts into Aberdeenshire or the lot into HIghland council, and Moray remember struggled with their imposed budget, werent they first to talk up raising council tax and like the rest backed down as SNP were ging to impose financial penalties on them for doing so ? SNP have track record of centralising. So we can wait and see, but to save costs and deliver services, assuming no income tax rises and keeping council tax freeze in place, costs can only be saved through mergers. Id be surpised if Moray Council was as is in 4 years time could be wrong and hope I am.

[crashbandicoot1979]

Would agree totally, but for long enough its been muted to absorb parts of Moray into Highlands and parts into Aberdeenshire or the lot into HIghland council, and Moray remember struggled with their imposed budget, werent they first to talk up raising council tax and like the rest backed down as SNP were ging to impose financial penalties on them for doing so ? SNP have track record of centralising. So we can wait and see, but to save costs and deliver services, assuming no income tax rises and keeping council tax freeze in place, costs can only be saved through mergers. Id be surpised if Moray Council was as is in 4 years time could be wrong and hope I am.

Yes that's a good point, Moray were indeed going to raise council tax. I guess the issue with the size of THC isn't so much about the amount of money available, but how the money and services are administered, in that certain places get more than their fair share of the pot, plus so many jobs are being centralised in Inverness rather than out in the remoter areas where they are needed, both as employment and as a service. Maybe a larger Council would lead to more area committees that could make sure each area has its specific needs met. At the very least I absolutely believe that Inverness should have a City Council, because its needs are totally diferent to the rural parts of the Highlands, plus most other cities have their own council - if it wants to be a city, it should be administered as a city (I'm digressing a bit here, but its something I've thought for a while).

[rob murray]

Yes that's a good point, Moray were indeed going to raise council tax. I guess the issue with the size of THC isn't so much about the amount of money available, but how the money and services are administered, in that certain places get more than their fair share of the pot, plus so many jobs are being centralised in Inverness rather than out in the remoter areas where they are needed, both as employment and as a service. Maybe a larger Council would lead to more area committees that could make sure each area has its specific needs met. At the very least I absolutely believe that Inverness should have a City Council, because its needs are totally diferent to the rural parts of the Highlands, plus most other cities have their own council - if it wants to be a city, it should be administered as a city (I'm digressing a bit here, but its something I've thought for a while).

Would agree, Inverness city could also include the inner moray firth, thats where the Highlands main economic drivers are, and as you righly point out the Inverness / Inner Moray Firth needs differ enormously to more rural areas, de centralising LA would indeed push jobs and service control out to local areas having real local control and accountability, the growth of Inverness also owes a lot to LA / HC HQ / HIE HQ and other big public organistions being headquartered there as thats where the majority of jobs are. HC top salaries exceed £100k in about 10 cases !

[squidge]

The Courier Article is reporting comments raised by Ruth Davidson. The manifesto of the SNP quite clearly refutes this suggestions of mega councils.

it commits to decentralising budgets, functions and democratic oversights to communities
it commits to better localisation for island communities
bigger role for community planning partnerships
more powerful role for community councils

Community involvement is at the heart of the manifesto promises. Tennant participation, community renewable projects. None of these can be delivered if we move to more centralisation. It's also perhaps worth mentioning that Richard Laird, an SNP councillor here in Inverness is actively pursuing a plan to reduce the size of Highland Council Area. There have been discussions around the Highland Council continuing to deliver centralised pan highland services like payroll, pensions and similar, I suppose corporate functions, whilst the policy decisions are devolved to local areas like Caithness. It's early days yet but all this sort of indicates a direction of travel which is the opposite to that suggested by Ruth Davidson in the article quoted.

The information is available on page 33 of the SNP Manifesto which you will find if you google it. It makes it crystal clear that in all their local government plans "the principle of local control not on behalf of a community but by a community is key."

Hope that clarifies things a bit more for you.

[caltonjock]

I am not surprised the Unionist Party's fear tactic agenda has spilled over to the election from the referendum. Their reasoning being that if it works keep doing it. I trust Scots are wiser for the experience

[rob murray]

The Courier Article is reporting comments raised by Ruth Davidson. The manifesto of the SNP quite clearly refutes this suggestions of mega councils.

it commits to decentralising budgets, functions and democratic oversights to communities
it commits to better localisation for island communities
bigger role for community planning partnerships
more powerful role for community councils

Community involvement is at the heart of the manifesto promises. Tennant participation, community renewable projects. None of these can be delivered if we move to more centralisation. It's also perhaps worth mentioning that Richard Laird, an SNP councillor here in Inverness is actively pursuing a plan to reduce the size of Highland Council Area. There have been discussions around the Highland Council continuing to deliver centralised pan highland services like payroll, pensions and similar, I suppose corporate functions, whilst the policy decisions are devolved to local areas like Caithness. It's early days yet but all this sort of indicates a direction of travel which is the opposite to that suggested by Ruth Davidson in the article quoted.

The information is available on page 33 of the SNP Manifesto which you will find if you google it. It makes it crystal clear that in all their local government plans "the principle of local control not on behalf of a community but by a community is key."

Hope that clarifies things a bit more for you.

Many thanks for the clarity