Colin cogitates on the lack of local Democracy

Colin gave a report to the Subbies on Wednesday night on a few items concerning his work as a Higland Councillor. He gave a short briefing on the new Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey area committee. He said that he thought it didn’t go far enough  and expanded on his personal thoughts about the lack of democracy in Scotland:

“Looking at what the Scottish Government’s response to the Island authorities will be in terms of providing them with additional powers and seeing how far this principle of subsidiarity actually does go. I’ve said it from the outset, being part of Highland, you’re part of a sub-national form of government. There’s a new book out called ‘Blossom’ by Lesley Riddoch, there’s a big chapter in there about how we are the least democratic country, basically, in Western Europe in terms of Councils with roles, and with roles that fit natural communities. Those of you that do write to ministers – I think write commending some of these steps as the right ones and I’m not hopeful that they are a year away or 3 years away of 5 years but there is that kind of frustration. Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey, it’s an artificial geography but a geography that fits in terms of five area committees of the Highland Council. It’s about as thin as the resources will allow us to go at the current time."