November 16, 2016
Highland democracy
One of the most widely regarded investigations of recent years into the future of local democracy came from an unlikely source – COSLA. The Commission for Strengthening Local Democracy published its final report over two years ago and it contained many thought-provoking and radical proposals. One of its big ideas was that local democracy must be allowed to evolve locally – implying a departure from the homogenised structures of the past. Earlier this year Highland Council established the Commission on Highland Democracy. If you live in the Highlands, you might like to respond to this Call for Evidence.
Commission wants your views on local democracy in the Highlands
The Commission on Highland Democracy has today published its Call for Evidence, and wants the public’s views on local democracy in the Highlands.
The Call for Evidence states:
“The Highland Council, like every other Council in Scotland, makes daily decisions about everything from home care to bin collections and from building schools to cutting grass. But are they making these decisions in the right way for you or might you be making them instead?
“We believe that people’s lives are better when they have more control over decisions which affect them. We want your views about what happens now, and what the future of democracy in the Highlands might be.
The job of the Commission on Highland Democracy is to find out how local people want to be involved in decisions and services that directly affect their lives and their communities. We believe we should not even start our work without asking local people what you think of this issue and how we should move forward. We hope your answers will direct our work and tell us what problems, if any, you want to get sorted.”
Members of the public are being invited to view the Call for Evidence on the Commission’s website and to complete a short survey online, or join the discussion at Highland Dialogue
Comments can also be emailed to: Commission@highland.gov.uk, or sent by post to: Commission on Highland Democracy, Policy Team, Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX.
The 8 questions in the Call for Evidence are designed to help people say the things they want to say and to allow the Commission to easily spot and interpret any common themes provided in the answers received. There is scope however, in the Call for Evidence for people to say something quite different and a promise is provided that every response will be taken into account as the Commission moves forward.