Semi-independence for Leith in council shake-up a welcome move - if it really happens
Scottish Government plans for local government could make Leith a community authority
The prospect of Leith being given semi-independence as part of a shake-up of local government has been welcomed by the port's councillors - but there was also some scepticism about whether it will really happen.
Initial proposals unveiled by the Scottish Government on Monday would see Scotland's current 32 councils replaced by between six and 10 regional authorities and up to 160 community authorities, with Leith named as an example.
The government's discussion document said: "Functions for community authorities would focus on those decisions which are most effectively made closest to their impact, such as householder planning applications, community planning, licensing decisions, as well as management of the historic environment and open space and greenspace, the regeneration of local town centres and the provision and maintenance of local leisure, sport and culture facilities."
Chas Booth, Green councillor for Leith, said: "Leith has a long and proud history as an independent burgh until 1920 when it was amalgamated into Edinburgh against its will.
"So any moves towards greater independence for Leith would, I'm sure, be welcomed by the majority of Leithers.
"Many folk believe that Edinburgh doesn't always make the best decisions about Leith, so would support greater autonomy and some decisions being made closer to local communities.
"But to be honest, I'll believe it when I see it. This SNP government has a long history of centralisation and taking power away from communities so there is a lack of trust and a large degree of scepticism at these proposals which the Scottish Government will need to address."
Leith Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda voiced similar scepticism.
She said: "It would be really exciting if they were actually going to give genuine power and funding to a local Leith authority. Given their track record of centralising, I'm really not confident they're going to do anything that will genuinely spread power."
And she said funding would be a fundamental issue. "For me, the problems with local government are more to do with underfunding and outsourcing rather than exactly how it's organised.
"Until we face up to that, whether there is one Edinburgh council or five or six of them won't make the crucial difference.
"And reorganisation is a hugely costly thing - if you want to spend money, any councillor could come up with quite a list of ways to spend money that would immediately improve people's lives, as opposed to some long-term reorganisation."
But Leith SNP councillor Adam Nols-McVey was more positive.
He said: “The initial proposals are interesting and I look forward to engaging with the government and council colleagues as plans develop to flesh out the detail.
"The idea that Leith could take more control over its destiny is certainly something that people would broadly support.
"The SNP has long promoted the concept of 'Leith for Independence' so 'independence for Leith' is very much in keeping with our core mission.”
The Scottish Government is now engaging in three months of talks with councils and others. It has said councillors elected in next year’s local elections will serve their full five-year term, regardless of any structural reforms in the interim.
But city council leader Jane Meagher has warned the plan for regional and community authorities suggests Edinburgh council would effectively be abolished.