Policy > Government & Parliament > Local Governement

In 1996 local government in Scotland for the fourth time in a century underwent legislative change via the Scottish Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994. The previous system (from 1975) of local district councils and large regional based authorities with differing roles were merged in to 32 unitary authorities. The former districts which included Dumbarton, Vale of Leven (excluding Helensburgh) and Clydebank were brought together to create West Dunbartonshire. The roles of the old councils included:

District Councils:
Housing & Rents – Parks – Leisure – Burials & Cremations – Local Courts – Refuse collection - Local Planning – Joint Boards – Environmental Health – Licensing – Registrations of Deaths, Births & Marriages – Libraries

Regional Councils:
Local Tax Collection – Roads – Lighting – Regional Planning – Fire – Police - Education – Social Work – Consumer & Trading Standards – Voters & Valuations Roll – Children’s Panel – Transport - Water - Sewerage

The New Unitary Authorities including West Dunbartonshire Council have a total of 1222 directly elected Councillors. West Dunbartonshire is a 22 member council, from which members elect a Provost (Lord Provost in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee as the Provost in these cities also represent the Monarch as Lord Lieutenant) or Convenor who chair meetings of the authorities full council meetings and act as a figurehead / representative for the area. The new local authorities encompass all of the former council’s duties including additional work that may be undertaken in line with legislation.

Council power resides with the elected Councillors, who can be split into the main political parties; Labour, Scottish National Party, Scottish Socialist, Independent, Conservative & Liberal Democrat with each councillor being elected for a period of four years.

Until May 2007 the largest political grouping could maintain political control of the authority due to the electoral system (First Past the Post) which differs from the new system (Single Transferable Vote – STV) introduced for the elections of 2007 (Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004). The new system aims to be more representative of those choosing to vote. Since May 07 the local governement map of Scotland has changed dramatically, with all but three local authorities being under the overall control of one political party. The majority of councils across Scotland are now made up of coalitions .

Further Change:
Since the turn of the 21st century local government has under gone two changes; in addition to the above act we also have the introduction of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003, this act ensures that local authorities have a duty to fulfil certain obligations in addition to those duties under the Act of 1993. They include:

Securing Best Value
Promoting partnership via Community Planning
The Power to Enhance Well Being
Integrated Waste Management System

Remember local government has a direct impact on our voluntary sector, via:
Funding
Partnership Working
Contractual Agreements
Service Delivery
Patronage

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