SCOTTISH local authority leaders believe a new independent report
could provide valuable ammunition in their forthcoming arguments with
the Government over its determination to reorganise Scottish local
government and possibly change some of its functions.
The report by Dr Ronald McQuaid, of Napier University, Edinburgh,
which was commissioned by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities,
identifies the scale and importance of the economic development
activities of the larger councils.
It concludes that the contribution of local authorities is
''significant in every sense, and any erosion of local government's role
in economic development will leave Scotland very much the poorer''.
Well over #90m was spent by councils solely or primarily on economic
development in 1990-91. This does not include spending on roads, water
and sewerage, and further education colleges.
According to Dr McQuaid, regional councils and larger district
councils are active in most aspects of support for business people and
the disadvantaged, as well as in removing infrastructural and other
barriers to development. Small rural authorities are less involved.
Some council leaders fear that if the Government opts for a reform of
local government which involves the creation of many smaller single tier
councils they will be unable to perform some of their present functions.
A covering report from Cosla secretary-general Roy MacIver, which will
be discussed by the convention's economic affairs committee at a meeting
in Edinburgh later this week, says Dr McQuaid's work is the most
detailed and comprehensive survey on local authority economic
development activity to be carried out in Scotland.
Dr McQuaid's conclusions are based on a survey to which all regional
and islands councils and most district authorities responded.
Mr MacIver goes on: ''A characteristic of local economic development
is a high level of joint working with other agencies, and it is clearly
shown that any erosion of local government's role and participation in
economic development will leave Scotland very much the poorer.''
The committee, says the secretary general, will want the publication
of the report to have the maximum impact on the debate on the future
role of local authorities in supporting their local economies.
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