New Ayrshire region and 'burgh-style' councils could revive local politics says political pundit
A prominent Scottish politics analyst says that a return to a two tier system of local government could be key to reigniting politics at a local level.
Allan Faulds, known for his comprehensive analysis of Scottish polls and election on his Ballot Box Scotland website, has worked on a project that could provide an alternative to the current system.
His report 'New Municipalism 2025' outlines a two-tier system of smaller municipal councils and larger regional bodies, a system last seen in the mid-90s.
It is almost 30 years since Strathclyde Regional Council, which covered a significant portion of west and central Scotland, and a further 19 district councils were scrapped in favour of the current unitary authorities.
Mr Faulds suggests an Ayrshire-wide authority alongside 11 local 'municipalities' would be a more effective approach, with the restoration of some historic burgh councils like Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine, bringing them closer to residents.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service said that the current size of councils was a barrier to engaging with local people.
The average council in Scotland covers around 170,000 people. That compares to an average of 7,000 people across Europe.
He said: 'I think in Scotland (and the UK as a whole) we have very little idea how completely back-to-front our idea of local representation is compared to our near neighbours.
'We obsess over preserving 'local' constituency representation in our national parliaments, whilst accepting increasingly huge 'local' councils as normal.
'On a human level, we very strongly associate with very local areas. I grew up in what is currently West Dunbartonshire and I strongly identify with the Vale of Leven as my hometown, but to this day have very little awareness of or affinity to Clydebank.
'I think part of why engagement with local politics is so low is because it's so distant from people.
'If it was more local, it would feel a lot more relevant, and it would also be a lot easier for people to participate in.
'Across almost anywhere else in Europe, big towns the size of Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine would have their own town councils, whilst smaller towns like Girvan, Cumnock and Largs would anchor more manageable sized districts.
'Combined urban-rural mega councils like the ones Scotland has are basically unheard of on the continent.'
The report suggests that the three Ayrshire authorities could be split into smaller councils such as Ayr, Kilmarnock, Irvine, and districts for rural areas like Carrick & Doon Valley and the Isle of Arran.
The Ayrshire region would be responsible for strategic services across a population in excess of 363,000 people, co-coordinating the services that would benefit from a more strategic approach.
Across Scotland that would see Scotland's 32 unitary councils broken down into about 128 community-level municipalities with average populations around 40,000.
Mr Faulds said that an Ayrshire Region would be a more appropriate upper-tier council than Strathclyde Regional Council and closely mirrors the historic county boundaries, reflecting an area with a strong shared identity.
He added: 'If someone is from Ayrshire, they'll usually let you know – and the proposal taps into that sentiment, aiming to empower local pride at both town and regional levels.'
One aspect of the report is its aim of reconnecting local government to traditional communities.
Towns that once had their own councils, some with centuries of history, would get them back.
The report explicitly speaks of 'restoring meaningful burgh status' to places like Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine.
Mr Faulds believes that in villages or towns managed from far-off council headquarters, having a local council again might rekindle that civic pride and involvement.
Smaller municipalities could celebrate and preserve their unique heritage more directly, whether it's Irvine's industrial roots or Girvan's rural traditions.
Indeed, the report goes so far as to say that , until local government is ' geographically accessible to voters,' it can't be politically accessible nor truly representative. '
However, he also acknowledges the issues of confusion and duplication around two-tier local government that led to the last iteration lasting just 20 years.
Critics warn of potential fragmentation and inefficiency if the map is splintered.
The report also accepts the risks around a proliferation of councils, including more bureaucracy, officials and associated costs.
It also recognises that small rural councils could struggle to manage their responsibilities, while residents could face confusion over which council to deal with on a range of issues.
Modern technology may play a part in addressing some of the issues that plagued the previous two tier approach, reducing costs and making small councils less 'isolated'.
A core question in any restructuring is who will deliver everyday services under the new system.
Many services that touch residents' daily lives would likely remain local.
For instance, a municipal Ayr Council or Kilmarnock Council could oversee housing, libraries, parks, waste collection and local planning – where local knowledge is invaluable.
Small councils could also handle things like sports facilities, street cleaning, and perhaps nursery education and childcare, tailoring these to local needs.
The regional body could take on strategic decisions, such as an Ayrshire-wide approach to public transport – coordinating bus and rail links between East, North and South Ayrshire – instead of the patchwork of separate plans today.
It could also handle primary and secondary schooling across Ayrshire to ensure consistent standards and efficient use of resources, much as the pre-1996 Strathclyde Region managed education.
Even critical areas like policing, fire and social care might come under the regional council's umbrella, introducing local oversight to services that are currently run nationally or by unelected boards.
The goal is a clearer division: municipalities for local services and day-to-day community needs, and the region for strategic, region-wide functions.
An Ayrshire regional authority might better address area-wide issues like hospital planning or major economic projects that no single small council could tackle alone.
Meanwhile, truly local matters (like fixing a park or allocating council housing in a village) could see faster response when decided by a town council attuned to that community.
You can find out more about the New Municipalism Project at newmunicipalism.ballotbox.scot.
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