GORDON Brown's think tank has said the Scottish Government should introduce directly elected regional mayors and allow city regions to keep tax revenues.
Our Scottish Future has produced a report written by former government adviser Jim Gallagher which insists Scotland "has gradually replaced one form of centralisation with another" since devolution, adding the case for local government reform is "urgent".
It says mayors or provosts should be “open to regions that want it” and a directly elected figure “could provide the necessary governance and the accountability needed” to drive change.
John Swinney has so far rejected calls to establish elected mayors in Scotland saying he doesn't want to create “a new group of politicians”.
He has also rubbished Andy Burnham’s claim that parts of Scotland feel as distant from Holyrood as they do from Westminster, arguing the Prime Minister has shown a "lack of knowledge" about Scotland.
In another proposal, the report suggests that the proceeds of land and buildings transactions tax (LBBT) could be allocated to local areas, meaning city regions would benefit from their economic policies or “pay a penalty for failure”.
“The UK is hyper-centralised in London, but Scotland is increasingly over-centralised in Edinburgh," Gallagher said.
"We need to bring power closer to the people — and we don’t need to start from scratch. Scotland’s existing city and regional growth deals already provide a foundation on which to build more fiscal freedom and political accountability. In some regions, that could mean giving people the option of directly electing a mayor or provost to provide clear political leadership and accountability.”
In announcing his Programme for Government last week, Swinney spoke of looking at a “new structure for local government in Scotland”, adding there would be "intensive dialogue" with councils.
But Gallagher's report suggests rather than launching a “disruptive” overhaul of councils, the Scottish Government could build on existing city and regional growth deals to create bodies that would oversee larger areas.
“The mood music is positive, but these reforms are urgent,” he added.
“There is an opportunity for both governments to work together to bring power closer to people and give Scotland’s regions the powers, resources and accountability they need to drive growth and improve the way they are governed.”
Prime Minister Burnham has said Scotland should consider ways to deepen devolution by following England’s model of giving more powers to cities and regions.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government believes in the democratic tradition of electing local authorities and for those authorities to be accountable to the people who elect them.
“We are committed to greater empowerment of regions in Scotland, and are working closely with partners to identify how best to do that, and how to deliver change at pace.
“Ministers are undertaking three months of engagement to gather views on future local governance arrangements, including meetings with Cosla, councils and other partners.”
