Written Question · S2W-10072 · Session 2
Whether it is satisfied that local authorities ensure a political balance of parties’ representatives on each council in allocating co…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that local authorities ensure a political balance of parties’ representatives on each council in allocating councillors to committees; whether it will publish evidence it has received in respect of the track record of local authorities in this regard; whether it will make it a statutory duty to ensure such political balance by implementing sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989; whether it is satisfied that the current voluntary approach to political balance is working, and whether it will make the evidence that it has considered in this regard available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
The answer
Sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 would place a duty on local authorities to ensure that the political balance on council committees reflects the political balance on the council itself. We have received a small number of representations on this issue, but we are not aware of any widespread view that the current voluntary approach is failing. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have confirmed that the issue has not been raised with them and that they see no reason to impose a statutory duty on councils. We will, however, keep the position under review, particularly in the context of the introduction of the single transferable vote for local government elections.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-10072 by reference.