COSLA Isn't Working
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I read some of the feedback from the COSLA conference earlier this week - on local democracy and policing.
Seemed like a bit of a damp squib - if you ask me.
The main line of argument appeared to be that a new, single police force - covering the whole of Scotland - would be unaccountable.
Since the new arrangements will require a new Scotland-wide force to report to an unelected board - and the Scottish government's justice secretary.
At the moment the majority of police forces report to a series of 'joint boards' - made up of local councillors from the individual councils covered by the board.
So Strathclyde Police Force - for example - reports to councillors drawn from 12 separate councils - and while the councillors are elected locally - they are not elected directly to the joint police board.
No they are elected indirectly - from within their own local councils - and there is no public input into the selection process.
Now this doesn't seem like a model of democracy to me - because it involves small groups of people electing one another to positions - behind closed doors.
But I can understand why COSLA loves the present system - in fact it's like looking in a mirror - because the Covention operates in a very similar way.
The President and Vice Presidents of COSLA are not directly elected by voters - they are elected by groups of councillors - and the senior figures at COSLA have no popular mandate despite having what you might call a 'guid conceit' of themselves.
London has a directly elected mayor and a single Metropolitan police force - and the capital city has a serves a population of nearly 12 million people.
Whereas COSLA is championing the cause of indirectly elected councillors - on a series of faceless joint boards - as if that's the solution to complex policing and other problems.
COSLA is not covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - despite being wholly funded by public money - yet member councils are subject to FOISA.
COSLA refuses to disclose the pay and remuneration of its senior figures - or to confrm how this is determined - yet bangs on about the need for greater accountability.
Little wonder so many people agree with me that - 'COSLA isn't working anymore'.
Seemed like a bit of a damp squib - if you ask me.
The main line of argument appeared to be that a new, single police force - covering the whole of Scotland - would be unaccountable.
Since the new arrangements will require a new Scotland-wide force to report to an unelected board - and the Scottish government's justice secretary.
At the moment the majority of police forces report to a series of 'joint boards' - made up of local councillors from the individual councils covered by the board.
So Strathclyde Police Force - for example - reports to councillors drawn from 12 separate councils - and while the councillors are elected locally - they are not elected directly to the joint police board.
No they are elected indirectly - from within their own local councils - and there is no public input into the selection process.
Now this doesn't seem like a model of democracy to me - because it involves small groups of people electing one another to positions - behind closed doors.
But I can understand why COSLA loves the present system - in fact it's like looking in a mirror - because the Covention operates in a very similar way.
The President and Vice Presidents of COSLA are not directly elected by voters - they are elected by groups of councillors - and the senior figures at COSLA have no popular mandate despite having what you might call a 'guid conceit' of themselves.
London has a directly elected mayor and a single Metropolitan police force - and the capital city has a serves a population of nearly 12 million people.
Whereas COSLA is championing the cause of indirectly elected councillors - on a series of faceless joint boards - as if that's the solution to complex policing and other problems.
COSLA is not covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - despite being wholly funded by public money - yet member councils are subject to FOISA.
COSLA refuses to disclose the pay and remuneration of its senior figures - or to confrm how this is determined - yet bangs on about the need for greater accountability.
Little wonder so many people agree with me that - 'COSLA isn't working anymore'.
