This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Local Governance Bill approved
23/06/2004
The Scottish Parliament today approved the Local
Governance (Scotland) Bill.
It will change the way Scotland's councillors are
elected, how they are recompensed for the work they do and
will remove barriers to allow a more diverse range of
people to stand for election.
Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy Kerr
said:
"This Bill is an important step forward in the
Executive's long-standing agenda of renewing local
democracy and improving public services.
"This legislation reflects our continuing commitment to
improving democratic participation and widening the range
of people who become involved in local government. The
package of measures contained in the Bill make it easier
for the many people in Scotland who could make a
significant contribution to improving their communities to
stand for election in future."
Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services Tavish
Scott said:
"People depend on councils to deliver a huge range of
services, from education to waste and recycling facilities.
They have a vital role that affects our everyday lives.
That is why it is so important that those elected to our
Councils accurately reflect the diversity within the
communities they serve.
"The Local Governance Bill is a significant step
forward, enabling more people, including younger people, to
stand for election. The Bill delivers on the Executive's
commitment to make progress on electoral reform.
"We now have a Bill that means the single transferable
vote will be used at the next local government elections.
In those elections, the people of Scotland will know that
every vote counts, and can have confidence that the number
of seats secured by a party more accurately reflects their
share of the vote."
The Local Governance (Scotland) Bill:
• introduces STV for the next local government
elections;
• brings the age at which people can stand as a
councillor down from 21 to 18;
• removes unnecessary political restrictions on
council employees standing for local authority elections;
and
• establishes an independent remuneration committee
for councillors.
The STV system in the Bill centres around multi-member
council wards, each with either 3 or 4 councillors. Voters
can express their preference on the ballot paper by voting
for one, more or all candidates by ranking them in order of
preference. After the polls close, a quota of votes is
calculated and candidates need to achieve that quota to be
elected. The process involves the transfer (at a reduced
value) of votes from candidates who have either been
comfortably elected, or who have no chance of being
elected, to second or subsequent preference candidates
until all the seats in the ward have been filled. The STV
Working Group chaired by David Green is considering some of
the practical issues that the new voting system will raise
and will report to Ministers later this year.
The provisions relating to councillors' remuneration
establish a new Remuneration Committee to consider and
advise on a new system of remuneration to replace the
current basic and special responsibility allowances paid to
councillors. The Committee will be asked to consider
remuneration including pension arrangements, and a one-off
severance scheme for councillors choosing to stand down at
the next election. The Councillors' Remuneration Progress
Group chaired by Lord Sewel is carrying out preliminary
work to allow the statutory committee to hit the ground
running when the Bill is passed.
The provisions relating to widening access are designed
to encourage a wider range of people to consider standing
for election to their local council. The Widening Access
to Council Membership Progress Group is also examining the
issues around widening access.