It’s time John Swinney listened to Sir Humphrey o n local government reform - Iain Whyte
There’s a Yes Minister episode where Sir Humphrey cautions Jim Hacker with the words “I implore you to stay out of the minefield of local government. It is a political graveyard."
First Minister John Swinney should take note. Instead, he has lumbered into the minefield with an incredibly slim proposal to restructure Scotland’s councils. One colleague described it to me as not even half-baked, more like not even oven-ready.
This week at Edinburgh Council a consensus emerged that Scotland’s capital city needs to retain its own voice. My colleague Neil Cuthbert was successful in proposing that any fundamental changes to Edinburgh’s boundaries should be subject to a referendum.
The request will be submitted to the First Minister despite the SNP and Greens rejecting Edinburgh residents’ right to choose. Odd, as they usually love calls for referenda and it was inspired by their legislation on local self-governance.
The plan itself is reminiscent of the old Regions. These were widely derided as too remote and undemocratic, Edinburgh residents regularly complained that Lothian Region “ignored the city’s needs”. Wider Lothian residents lamented that it was “rule from Edinburgh.”
Offsetting this is the potential for more local Community Authorities. This may hearten those who want a “Republic of Leith” but how does that fit for an area like my Craigentinny and Duddingston Ward with no single town or village centre?
The suggested powers also bring conflict. Could a NIMBY Community Authority block a Regional Authority’s growth aims using the proposed Licensing and Planning powers?
Likewise, what happens when a local body says it wants more short-term parking next to local shops as part of the proposed town centre regeneration powers? This could easily be blocked by the Region’s wider transport plans. Just like 7-7-7 bus lanes are already damaging local businesses at Jock’s Lodge.
Much of what the Scottish Government seem to want can be achieved without expensive structural change. More powers for community councils, powerful area committees within councils, or beefed-up regional partnerships like the one for Edinburgh’s City Deal are examples.
In Yes Minister, Bernard interrupts Sir Humphrey pointing out that “you cannot have a graveyard in a minefield. Because all the corpses would... [be blown up]".
One begins to wonder whether the Scottish Government is genuine. Or do they want these plans to blow up so they can say “we tried to reform but all this opposition made it too impossible.”