TIME FOR LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Well the sleep cycles are back on track, after being off work during the festive season, and the workload is back to its high level, the campaigning is back on track, and so I've now got the time for another blog post.

The main political struggle over the last few weeks is about accountability. On the one hand we have Wendy Alexander and New Labour who believe that their own Councillors cannot be trusted, and are determined to weaken local democracy, as opposed to the well received news from the SNP Government that Councils are to receive funding with less ring-fencing.

It really is staggering that Labour, who only just longer than a decade ago were demanding protection for local authorities under a Conservative Government, are adopting the Thatcherite tactic, that local authorities have to be instructed on what to do. The repeated statements from Wendy Alexander in particular, that Councils and Councillors will not fund programs to protect the weak and disadvantaged in society is grossly insulting to those who seek local office no matter which political affiliation they have. The whole point is that Councils should they choose can now spend additional monies on these programs if they so desire.

Moves away from ring-fencing strengthen local democracy, they give voters a greater opportunity to hold Councils to account for their budget commitments and give voters clear choices when it comes to election time. As the move towards separating Council elections from Holyrood will bear out, they deliver voter participation on local issues.

Wendy Alexander's recent media performances have been nothing short of disgraceful, whilst Brian Currie's thoughtful article in the Evening Times regarding the split between New Labour Councillors and their Holyrood counterparts show that New Labour have learned nothing from the elections, as Brian notes.

The real agenda against ending ring-fencing, is that New Labour want to increase our Council Tax, a grossly unfair tax, as they perceive regressive taxation as the way forward.

Another excellent piece of news, is the Scottish Government's announcement that it is intending to move towards elections for Health Boards. This will bring real changes to how Health Boards operate, will increase increased interest in its work, and will finally bring real accountability on the decisions these health boards make. Unquestionably, this will make health care more local and more responsive. No more will hospitals be threatened with closure after a health board has narrowed the parameters for consultation. Elections to health boards will bring a new broom to the Health Service and will see a fresh approach.

All in all, a good time for local accountability.