This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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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.