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Study calls for new ‘entrepreneurial approach’ in not-for-profit housing -...
The research found the current economic crisis is “crushing” the housing hopes of many poorer and younger households and holding back community renewal, while the drive for 21st century homes is...
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Maximising assets - The local government estate has a part to play in public...
The public sector has a diverse property portfolio, often spanning different locations and with varied premises. In an age of falling budgets, cutting costs is top of the agenda. Therefore...
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Taking planning to the masses - To all but the most dedicated planning...
This week, charrettes are in the news and once again, journalists are left scratching their heads at how to squeeze an explanation into an opening paragraph. According to the Scottish Government, a...
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Civic pride: City of Edinburgh Council Lord Provost Donald Wilson -...
Few cities can boast the attractions of Edinburgh. With its unique mix of culture, history and nature, it is no wonder the capital’s Lord Provost is proud of the city. Edinburgh, with its...
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Tracker: Local Government - Covering business in the parliamentary chamber as...
General questions 31.01.13: Local planning decisions Iain Gray (Labour) asked the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local planning decisions should be made by local councillors....
View ArticleConstitutional debate to dominate COSLA conference - This year’s...
A keynote event at the conference, which takes place in St Andrews on 7 and 8 March, will be a debate between Alistair Darling and Nicola Sturgeon on the future of local government in Scotland. Other...
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Is Edinburgh stagnant, shabby and sick? - When a leading academic brands one...
In an article for Foreign Policy magazine, Richard Williams, Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at Edinburgh University, attacks Scotland’s capital city, much to the fury of city leaders and...
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Money matters - Councils across Scotland are facing tough financial choices...
When Finance Secretary John Swinney announced the funding allocations for Scotland’s 32 local authorities for the next financial year, many were less than happy with the figures. Th e total support for...
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For the people: UNISON Scotland vice-convener Stephen Smellie - Stephen...
With around 1.3 million members, roughly 150,000 of those in Scotland, UNISON is Britain and Europe’s biggest public sector union. For Smellie, who is currently seconded to work for the union full time...
View ArticleBallot change called for - Alphabetic order of local government candidates...
Ballot papers for local government elections in Scotland should be overhauled amid concerns of an “inbuilt advantage” for candidates whose name comes earlier in the alphabet, a leading academic has...
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Street life - One in 10 Scottish shops is lying empty — what does this mean...
The high street, in its traditional sense, was once the heart of a town or village. In the past people would have visited it every day — to work, shop or meet their friends to catch up on the latest...
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New vision for local government
A “strong and unchallengeable” description of local government and its services must be embedded in Scotland’s constitutional future, according to COSLA’s president. David O’Neill, who has led the...
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New challenges: interview with Jim Hume MSP - Liberal Democrat housing...
As one of only five Lib Dem MSPs to return to Holyrood after the party’s disastrous election result in 2011, Hume and his colleagues are spread thin in terms of portfolios. Taking on the huge and...
View ArticleTalking point: Electoral reform - The mechanics of our electoral systems are...
Ask many politicians and policy wonks to explain to you exactly how the Scottish Parliament elections are conducted, in one coherent sentence, and you will draw a blank. Add in the fact that Scottish...
View ArticleCouncils must improve scrutiny of major capital projects - Local authorities...
A new report published today by the Accounts Commission said £27bn has been invested since 2000/01 on schools, social housing, sports and leisure centres and other projects. Chairman of the Accounts...
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A new vision: local government after 2014 - What will the local government...
Since the SNP announced the independence referendum is to be held in 2014, the constitutional debate has raged in the debating chamber at Holyrood. We’ve had arguments over the European Union, NATO and...
View ArticleCouncils brace themselves for welfare fallout - Scottish local government is...
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) president David O’Neill has said it will be Scotland’s councils who will be left to pick up the pieces – despite having had nothing to do with the...
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New start: interview with Johanna Boyd - Labour’s Johanna Boyd is the new...
For Boyd, the past year has been a political whirlwind. Less than 12 months after first being elected onto the council, Boyd has been chosen to take on the role of leader, after veteran councillor,...
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Taking control - Community empowerment is a cornerstone of the Scottish...
According to the Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, led by the late Dr Campbell Christie, communities are at the heart of reform. In the report, the commission stated: “Reforms must...
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Talking point: Think local - Councils are, by their very nature, local.
The 1996 reorganisation resulted in the nine regions and 53 districts being abolished, although the three island councils remained unchanged. The district councils and regional councils were replaced...
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