I don't usually post papers I have written on this blog, but the Mercat Group of former Council Chief Executives recently published an article on the Enlighten, Scotland's Independent Think Tank
The paper was widely circulated and appeared on the front page of the Times and in most of the Scottish Press, as well as featuring on the BBC Good Morning Scotland programme and STV. The press release appears below, followed by the article.
Revitalising Local Democracy in Scotland – The Mercat Group
The independent, non-party think tank Enlighten has published a paper written by Keith Yates, former Chief Executive of Stirling Council, and a number of other former local authority chief executives, which calls for “a new democratic settlement” devolving power from the Scottish Government to local authorities.
The former chief executives are part of the Mercat Group, an informal, non-political network of former Chief Executives of Scottish Councils, which offers considered, evidence-based insights to stimulate debate and promote the revitalisation of local democracy.
In a new paper – Revitalising Local Democracy in Scotland – written by the Mercat Group and published by Enlighten, Keith Yates and his fellow former chief executives highlight that:
- Since the high-water mark of local democracy after the Wheatley reforms of 1975, there has been a hollowing out of local democracy. This followed the creation of unitary authorities in 1996, and then the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, resulting in the centralisation of services, with over 100 quangos responsible for the delivery and inspection of public services.
- Place management has become increasingly complex. The pace of change and growth has slowed due to austerity and the cluttered landscape of new bodies and agencies whose priorities often clash with those of elected councils.
- Scotland has become one of the most centralised democracies, with councils and communities becoming less involved in shaping their futures as more decisions are taken centrally.
- The Scottish Parliament is perceived by many as too tribal and failing to evolve through collaboration and constructive dialogue
The Mercat Group is now calling for a ‘New Democratic Settlement’ after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, aimed at devolving public services to the authorities closest to the citizen, and at embedding local government in a written constitution for Scotland.
Keith Yates said:
“There is a broad consensus that local democracy in Scotland is much diminished from the crucial part it played in the development of the nation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of the life-changing innovations for people and places were designed and built by our municipalities, and Scotland flourished not from government initiatives but from the wellspring of local practical experience.
“Centralisation has brought with it diminished trust. In 1999, trust in the Scottish Parliament stood at 81%; this had dropped to 47% in the 2023 Scottish Social Attitude Survey. The latest Scottish Household Survey found that trust in local councils had declined to 53%. It is surely time for Scotland to think again.
“We are suggesting a dozen issues that the Scottish Parliament might address to accelerate growth, improve public services and increase citizen participation.”
The Mercat Group’s suggestions include:
- Completing the devolution settlement by embedding local government in a written constitution
- Reinvigorating local communities by triggering the latent energy and commitment of communities, and
- Asking whether Scotland has become too Edicentric since the siting of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. It has accelerated its development as the political, financial, cultural, transport and media hub of Scotland. Edinburgh dominance may have restricted growth elsewhere: “the A9 isn’t the only project on hold as Edinburgh blossoms”
Chris Deerin, Director of Enlighten, said:
“Scottish local government is not in a healthy state. Powers have been centralised to Holyrood, budgets are inadequate, and opinion polls show that trust in local democracy is in decline.
“Scottish local government is not in a healthy state. Powers have been centralised to Holyrood, budgets are inadequate, and opinion polls show that trust in local democracy is in decline.
“The suggestions in this paper, from former chief executives who understand this deeply, should be carefully considered by the political parties as they prepare their manifestos. This cannot be yet another missed opportunity for meaningful reform.”
