Metropolitan Government in Decline

Abstract

Ostensibly, the reorganization of Scottish local government in 1996 was intended to create a more local, more efficient, and more accountable system. However, through grant abatement, the Conservative government simultaneously intensified its fiscal squeeze on local authorities, seeking expenditure reductions in real terms. Contrary to assurances from party leaders, both developments led to disruption for local authorities, felt particularly in Scotland’s four major cities. Overall, these and other changes have culminated in a period of downsizing for Scottish local government. Whereas a new Labor government is committed to wider constitutional changes, it is persisting with much of its predecessor’s policy agenda, albeit in muted form. Therefore, in the intermediate term, Scottish local government faces a continuing period of uncertainty and retrenchment. This article reviews the structure of local government in Scotland that was abolished in 1996 and the case for its replacement. Then, using evidence from Scotland’s four principal cities, the article examines and evaluates the broad thrust in recent central government policy—the downsizing of local government—using five criteria: scope, scale, staffing, spending, and comprehensibility.