[EM] Scotland local govt P.R. story

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

FAIRSHARE NEWS RELEASE

18 December 2001


Executive Embrace Voting Reform


The Scottish Executive will forge ahead with plans to introduce 

proportional representation for local government elections.

Reports of the contents of today's Scottish Executive statement

on local government reform received a warm welcome from the cross-

party Fairshare campaign.


Chair of Fairshare, Andrew Burns commented:

"It is great to see, finally, the Executive coming up with

concrete proposals for implementing proportional representation for 

local government elections.


"This is a significant move in the right direction on an

important Executive commitment.  


"Fairshare welcome the inclusive approach which seems to be being 

taken: our campaign involves Trade Unions, the voluntary sector, and 

many individuals, as well as political parties.


"We hope, therefore, that the consultation process is meaningful

and productive, rather than going over the same old questions again 

and again.  MacIntosh and Kerley consulted widely, and came up with a 

clear plan for what Scotland needs: the Single Transferable Vote to 

elect our councillors.


"It is now up to those, like us, who support the reform and

renewal of local democracy to make the case for change.  Fairshare 

look forward to fair votes legislation, based on the Kerley 

report, being in place before May 2003"


ENDS


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE


The next steps for PR in local government have been announced by the 

Scottish Executive. The proposals, printed below, form an agreement 

between the First Minister and Deputy First Minister that have been 

accepted by their respective party groups and endorsed by the Cabinet 

this afternoon.


18 December 2001



AGREEMENT ON TAKING FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KERLEY 

COMMITTEE


BACKGROUND 


The Partnership Agreement between Labour and the Liberal Democrats in 

1999 stated that following the publication of the final McIntosh 

Commission report the Scottish Executive would bring forward 

a "programme of change including progress on electoral

reform."  


To meet that commitment in 1999 the Scottish Executive appointed the 

Kerley Committee.  It was given a specific remit to advise on the 

most appropriate system of election for councils, taking account of 

proportionality and the councillor-ward link (amongst other  

criteria).  


The Kerley Report into Renewing Local Democracy was published in June 

2000.  Following its publication the Scottish Executive established 

the Ministerial Working Group on Renewing Local Democracy to consider 

the Kerley recommendations.  In the second Programme for Government, 

published earlier this year the Executive stated: "We are

committed 

to continuing to make progress on electoral reform and the wider 

modernisation of local government."


In September 2001 the then First Minister made clear that "the

Kerley principles will be at the heart of our modernisation of local 

government".  In November the new First Minister repeated that 

commitment.  

 

Since Jack McConnell was elected First Minister the Ministerial 

Working Group on Renewing Local Democracy has met three times and has 

agreed this timetable for the next steps in taking forward decisions 

in relation to the Kerley recommendations.  In line with the 

commitment made in November, that timetable is today being put before 

both partnership backbench groups.  


The First Minister has made clear his intention for the Labour Party 

to conduct its own internal consultation process on governance and 

electoral reform in local government, to run alongside the early part 

of the process detailed overleaf.  



TIMETABLE FOR THE NEXT STEPS


Today we are setting out a timetable for the next steps to take 

forward the principles of Kerley, as detailed below:


Before the Parliament's Easter Recess, the publication of a White 

Paper on the future of local government based on the principles of 

Kerley including future governance, councillors' allowances and 

options for electoral reform.  This will be followed by a 

consultation period lasting 4 months.


Following publication of the White Paper the Executive will instruct 

the drafting of appropriate clauses to reflect the options contained 

in the White Paper.


During the summer the Executive will analyse the results of the 

consultation on the White Paper, and prepare its response, in 

consultation with the Labour and Liberal Democrat backbench groups.


Shortly after Parliament reconvenes in September 2002 the Executive 

will set out the next steps in relation to legislation and the future 

governance of Councils.  


The First Minister and Deputy First Minister intend to ensure that 

this debate will be set in the context of renewing and supporting 

local government as a vital part of our democratic system.  They will 

emphasise the crucial role of local elected Councillors.