DURING the dark days of the 1980s and 90s Scottish local government was the only democratic institution which stood up to the anti-Scottish policies of the Thatcher and Major Governments.
The Labour Party finally got its act together to kick the Tories out at Westminster, but local government played a pivotal role in changing the political landscape in Scotland - around such issues as the poll tax, Strathclyde's water referendum, and the council elections in 1996 which reduced the Scottish Tories to rubble.
In the run-up to the 1997 General Election, Scottish local government was part of the solution, not part of the problem. While in opposition Scottish MPs, some of whom are now running the Scottish Office, were in no doubt that the biggest problems facing local councils in Scotland were caused by massive underfunding and almost 20 years of unremitting hostility from central Government.
The impartial observer could be forgiven for asking what has changed. The Scottish local government budget continues to be cut and faces a further massive reduction in 1999, just weeks away from the next set of council elections and the inaugural elections to the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish local government has a proud history and an impressive record of service delivery, although public perception is bound to be affected by the continuation of policies which, since 1996, have resulted in an average council tax rise of 32%. At the same time front-line services have been cut and thousands of workers made redundant.
The new Government talks of a new partnership with local councils, but the tone of Ministerial statements and public speeches is becoming increasingly strident and hostile. Painting a negative picture of local councils provides a handy smokescreen, but it obscures the real issue - the need for an urgent review of local government finance.
Scottish local authorities do not deserve this sort of shabby treatment. The policies of central government are the root of the problem and it is these policies which require to be changed. If change does not come soon, voters will surely take matters into their own hands in 1999.
Mark A Irvine,
Head of Local Government (Scotland),
UNISON Scotland,
60 Belford Road, Edinburgh.
June 2.
THE discovery of a #4.5m shortfall in Labour-run North Lanarkshire and over #1.5m in Labour-run East Ayrshire has prompted central Labour Government to step in. But who will step in to run the Ministry of Defence as the Labour Secretary of State presides over a #191m overspend on one contract alone? Perhaps Cosla could step in to help George Robertson out!
Councillor Robert Aldridge,
Liberal Democrat Group Leader,
City of Edinburgh Council,
High Street, Edinburgh.
June 3.
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