Too Many Councils
A recent study has confirmed what the rest of Scotland has known for years - we have too many councils.
Not according to the voice of Scottish local government - COSLA - of course which would have people believe that everything is just tickety-boo.
But on this issue - as on so many others - COSLA is behind the curve - the authentic voice of conservatism and the status quo.
According to research carried out for accountants Grant Thiornton - many of the most senior officials in Scottish councils - believe there are too many local authorities.
Apparently 40% of local authority chief executives and directors of finance - believe the number of councils needs to be cut.
Well knock me down with a feather - because that is a statement of the all too obvious - since no one in their right mind thinks that Ayrshire needs three councils.
Or that the tiny Moray and Clackmannanshire Councils - deliver world class local services - by virtue of their small scale and size.
What a load of tosh!
No, the council map of Scotland is a dog's dinner - the result of a politically driven reorganisation of Scottish local government in 1996.
When the Tories (remember them?) still ruled over Scotland- Michael Forsyth and company.
But that was then and this is now.
Scotland doesn't need or want - 32 councils and 32 chief executives and 32 directors of finance and so on - and all the bureaucracy that goes with all these senior and very highly paid posts.
Around 12 councils or so - 15 at the most - would get the job done - and would free up some much needed funds to go into front-line services such as care of the elderly.
Not according to the voice of Scottish local government - COSLA - of course which would have people believe that everything is just tickety-boo.
But on this issue - as on so many others - COSLA is behind the curve - the authentic voice of conservatism and the status quo.
According to research carried out for accountants Grant Thiornton - many of the most senior officials in Scottish councils - believe there are too many local authorities.
Apparently 40% of local authority chief executives and directors of finance - believe the number of councils needs to be cut.
Well knock me down with a feather - because that is a statement of the all too obvious - since no one in their right mind thinks that Ayrshire needs three councils.
Or that the tiny Moray and Clackmannanshire Councils - deliver world class local services - by virtue of their small scale and size.
What a load of tosh!
No, the council map of Scotland is a dog's dinner - the result of a politically driven reorganisation of Scottish local government in 1996.
When the Tories (remember them?) still ruled over Scotland- Michael Forsyth and company.
But that was then and this is now.
Scotland doesn't need or want - 32 councils and 32 chief executives and 32 directors of finance and so on - and all the bureaucracy that goes with all these senior and very highly paid posts.
Around 12 councils or so - 15 at the most - would get the job done - and would free up some much needed funds to go into front-line services such as care of the elderly.
