Need for Elected Leaders at a Regional Level in Scotland?
In the realm of Scottish politics, a contentious topic has emerged: the potential implementation of Metro Mayors. This proposal, inspired by the English model, aims to enhance regional decision-making and economic development by devolving powers closer to local areas.
Proponents argue that mayors could drive place-based powers more effectively and improve coordination across councils and public services in a region, fostering more strategic governance and influence with central government. However, the Scottish context presents unique challenges.
One of the primary concerns is double devolution, as many of the powers that English metro mayors hold—transport, planning, skills, economic development—are already devolved to the Scottish Government. This could potentially fragment the current centralized Scottish system.
Existing Scottish structures like Health Boards and Regional Transport Partnerships already operate regionally but with differing boundaries, creating overlaps and complexity. Introducing metro mayors risks complicating or duplicating governance structures and could centralize some functions upwards from local councils, which may undermine those councils' autonomy.
Geography and population distribution in Scotland differ from England. Only Glasgow and Edinburgh city-regions fully meet the typical population threshold for metro mayors; other areas may not qualify or fit neatly into such governance units. This raises the question of how rural and less populous regions would be governed and whether they would be at a disadvantage if excluded from mayoral powers and resources.
Regarding Scotland's existing devolution framework and local government, metro mayors could potentially reduce the authority of local councils by centralizing certain powers at a regional mayoral level. This could upset the balance of the current system where many powers are at the Scottish Government or local council level.
Moreover, the governance landscape would require consolidation or realignment of various regional bodies with overlapping jurisdictions, complicating the landscape and requiring careful boundary setting and power distribution.
Risking fragmenting or changing how powers are shared in Scotland’s unique devolution arrangement, where most transport, economic development, and planning powers are national rather than regionally devolved, unlike England, is another concern.
In summary, the Scottish metro mayor proposal must navigate the fundamental differences in Scotland’s devolved powers, geography, and existing regional governance structures. While it could enhance regional coordination and influence, it also carries risks of duplication, complexity, and tensions with local councils and the Scottish Government’s established central role.
The debate over Metro Mayors in Scotland is far from over. The growing prominence of English regional mayors has prompted calls for similar arrangements to be adopted in Scotland, but proposals to layer English-style regional mayors on top of the existing system in Scotland should be one element of a more comprehensive reassessment of local and regional government in Scotland.
Cities and regions in Scotland may need sufficient powers, capacities, and resources to pursue effective place-based strategies tailored to their specific circumstances. A thorough reassessment of local and regional government in Scotland might include ambitious changes to the current system. Whether Metro Mayors play a role in this reassessment remains to be seen.
References: [1] Clelland, D. (2022). Double Devolution? Examining the Case for Scottish 'Metro Mayors'. Scottish Centre on European Relations.
Scottish literature might delve into the complexities and implications of the ongoing debate regarding the implementation of Metro Mayors, an issue deeply rooted in Scottish politics and policy-and-legislation. General news could cover the potential impact of these regional governance structures on local councils, with the Scottish context and unique challenges posing significant concerns for advocates of devolving powers closer to local areas.
