Local Democracy

Taxing Land In Scotland

Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell

Media type: Article

Date published:

A proposal for a Local Authority controlled Land Tax with projected revenue for each Local Authority in Scotland


Scotland’s Very Own Democratic Deficit

Author / Creator: Coll McCail

Media type: Article

Date published:

The detrimental impacts of the Scottish Government’s council tax freeze have been clear since the policy was announced last October – without the prior knowledge of civil servants or council leaders.


By us and for us: How local democracy can build and strengthen community

Author / Creator: Willie Sullivan

Media type: Article

Date published: 2022

It is not enough that the future is built, it must be built for us. We must now learn a lesson for our next hundred years; it is not enough that the future is built for us, it must be built by us. 


How Covid changed Scotland: Our local government must be reimagined

Author / Creator: Ben Wray

Media type: Article

Date published:

Ben Wray explains why local government has to be reimagined 


Resilient Scotland; Part Two

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

Creating a resilient Scotland covers the next Scottish Parliament. It provides the detail of how the transformation envisaged can be achieved quickly, with a closer look at our economy, society and democracy.


Development councils; a proposal for a new system of local democracy in Scotland

Author / Creator: Common Weal

Media type: Policy Paper

Date published:

Scotland has the worst degree of local democracy in Europe. To correct this, Scotland should create a new tier of local democracy at the community level. The size and shape of each new democratic area should be defined by communities themselves. Each area should be represented by a Development Council, elected by every member of the community aged 16 or above.