Tag: Reform Scotland

REFORM SCOTLAND: Time for action instead of ‘perpetual talk’ on local government powers

Think tank calls more financial controls to be devolved from Holyrood to local authorities

Reform Scotland, the independent, non-partisan think tank, has today released its response to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s call for views on the sustainability of local government finances.

The think tank suggests that successive Holyrood governments have failed to create the conditions for sustainable local government, and that political discourse has been dominated by “perpetual talk without action”.

For example, nearly 15 years ago the Christie report highlighted the necessity of early intervention and preventative spending programmes. The importance of that report is regularly highlighted by politicians and policymakers, yet it has not been delivered upon.

To make matters worse, prevention programmes are often delivered by the third sector in collaboration with local authorities, and with councils’ budgets under growing strain, all too often these programmes are first in the line for cuts.

In its response, Reform Scotland calls for:

  • Collaboration on new approaches for financing local government activity, such as social bridging finance
  • The end to central government interference in the setting of Council Tax rates, and an empowerment of local authorities to consider the adjustment of bands and exemptions
  • More fiscal powers to be devolved to local authorities to allow them to respond to local needs

Reform Scotland Director, Chris Deerin, said: “During the 25 years of devolution, we have focused on the transfer of powers between Westminster and Holyrood, but we have taken our eye off the ball when it comes to the power of local authorities.

“Unfortunately, in that time we have seen Scotland become further centralised. This approach must end. Scotland is too diverse to presume that the solutions which can work for Edinburgh can work for Elgin, or those that work for Glasgow can work for Gairloch.

“We need to shift away from a drip-drip approach of devolving small, occasional powers, which simply encourages councils to come cap in hand to the Scottish Government, and towards empowerment and recognising that local communities are best placed to meet local needs.

“We have seen years of broad agreement that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot work, yet this has amounted to little more than perpetual talk, without action. Now is the time for action.”

The full response can be read here.

Pay as you Drive?

Reform Scotland says electric vehicles dictate new system of paying for roads

Reform Scotland, the independent, non-partisan think-tank, has called for a revolution in how Scotland pays for its roads, to match the upcoming revolution in the cars that are driven on them.

The think tank has called for all political parties, ahead of the Holyrood election in May, to commit to a feasibility study for a pay-as-you-drive system, whereby people pay according to which roads they use and when. This would replace Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty. Reform Scotland is also asking the parties to commit to the devolution from Westminster of those two taxes, in order that they can be abolished.

With the UK Government having recently committed to phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and with the advancement of production and battery technology rapidly leading to more affordable EVs, Reform Scotland sees Fuel Duty as a tax living on borrowed time, as well as a tax which fails to take account of which roads are being used, and when.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), meanwhile, while addressing carbon emissions through its grading structure, punishes those who drive infrequently by charging them the same as motorists who drive on a regular basis.

Reform Scotland’s pay-as-you-drive system would require drivers to pay based on which roads they use and when they use them. This builds on an earlier report, Pay-as-you-drive: The road to a better future.

Reform Scotland’s Research Director Alison Payne said: “The way we currently charge drivers is bad for the environment, promotes congestion and is unfair on low-mileage motorists and those in more remote areas. 

“It’s also the case that the taxes which underpin the charging system are becoming increasingly irrelevant as electric vehicles become more prominent.

“We believe that pay-as-you-drive, with central and local government pricing roads and being accountable to their electorate for their level, would be fairer and more relevant to the future of motoring.

“It would also be highly likely to reduce congestion, as people changed their driving behaviour to make better use of road space at times when it is cheaper to do so.”

Reform Scotland’s 2013 report, Pay-as-you-drive: the road to a better future can be read here.

Briggs’ concern over ‘lost pupils’

Figures released by Reform Scotland this week show a yearly increase in the number of pupils that have less than a 50% attendance.

In Edinburgh the number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 354 in 2016/17 to 457 in 2017/18 and 419 in 2018/19. This is 0.7%, 0.9% and 0.8% of total enrolled pupils in Edinburgh schools.

In East Lothian number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 128 in 2016/17 to 163 in 2017/18 and 209 in 2018/19. This is 0.9%, 1.1% and 1.3% of total enrolled pupils in East Lothian schools.

In West Lothian number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 329 in 2016/17 to 412 in 2017/18 and 444 om 2018/19. This is 1.2%,1.5% and 1.6% of total enrolled pupils in West Lothian schools.

Midlothian Council did not respond.

Latest CAMHS waiting times figures show over a thousand children and young people waiting 0-18 weeks and 427 children and young people who have been waiting over a year for mental health support.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “This is an important report from Reform Scotland which highlights how many young people are being let down by the education system in Edinburgh, West Lothian and East Lothian.

“It is extremely worrying that so many young pupil have a lower than 50% attendance rate at school and the number of pupils has risen in all three local authorities.

“CAMHS services in Lothian have been struggling to cope with the significant increase in demand for services and young people must be fully supported to get back into full time attendance at school.”

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Lose, lose: Scottish state schools cut number of exams pupils are allowed to sit

Reform Scotland says sharp reduction in National 4s and 5s available in many schools is narrowing educational opportunity for children.

New research released today by Reform Scotland, the independent think tank, exposes a disturbing decline in the number of National 4s and 5s school pupils are being allowed to sit. Continue reading Lose, lose: Scottish state schools cut number of exams pupils are allowed to sit