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Article 12: Two Tier Local Authorities, Responsibilities, Elections, Funding, Remuneration, Boundaries, Recall.

Description

Two Tier Local Authority, Responsibilities, Elections and qualification of Regional and Burgh Councillors; Funding, Remuneration, Boundaries; Citizen referendums and Recall.

Debate

Section 12.1. In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and to empower decision-making at the appropriate local level, a two-tier system of local authorities will share autonomous official responsibility for delegated public services and facilities in a particular area. The two tiers will be termed Regional Councils and Burgh Councils.

12 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.2. All Regional and Burgh areas of jurisdictions and boundaries are set by law on the recommendations of an Independent Boundary Commission, having due regard for population, geographical area, cultural, local associations and established local communities. Each conurbation designated as a city would qualify as a region and other mainland regions would not exceed seven per cent of the nation’s population. Each Mainland Region will be comprised of three Parliamentary Constituencies.

2 comments · 16 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 12.3. The apportioning of administrative authority and allocation of funding levels between the National Government, Regional and Burgh Councils will be determined by a National Commission and is determined with consideration for the number of inhabitants and the geographical area of each individual constituency.

2 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.4. The principal source of revenue funding for public services provided by Regional and Burgh Councils to be ground rent or an equivalent form of land taxation, levied by Regional Councils but collected by the National Revenue Service on their behalf, together with minor revenues arising from fees, fines, user charges etc.

3 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.5. The capital investment funding for new National and Local Government infrastructure projects and fixed capital investment to be obtained directly by application to the Central Bank.

2 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.6. The public services provided, including the provisions for connectivity, will meet national standards of quality and performance and will be audited annually.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.7. Candidates for Regional and Burgh Councils are elected by secret ballot using the single transferable vote system of proportional representation, for a five-year term of office and will when elected be resident in the Region or Burgh area represented throughout their term of office.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.8. The numbers of representatives for Regional and Burgh Councils will be based on a system of proportionality of the electorate as set by law.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.9. Elections will take place during the first week in May and all of the registered electorate resident within the region are eligible to vote in the regional elections. Only those residents in their designated Burghs are eligible to vote in Burgh elections.

2 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.10. All Scottish citizens on the electoral register are entitled to vote in Regional and Burgh elections. Foreign nationals who have been registered on the electoral register for a continuous period of three years immediately prior to the election date are entitled to vote.

4 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.11. The electoral campaign funding limit for each prospective candidate will be set by law and regulated by the Electoral Commission.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.12. Members of Regional and Burgh Councils are remunerated as determined by law, which details will be available in the public domain.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.13. Members of Regional and Burgh Councils are required to abide by a Code of Conduct and operate in accordance with remits which set out their powers, duties and responsibilities. Within their first session of appointment, all Members are required to undertake training as per section 13.3.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.14. Each Regional and Burgh Council elects from amongst its numbers Officers to preside over meetings, record decisions and minutes and to represent it in its external affairs.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.15. The employees of Regional and Burgh Councils will be organised as a professional and non-partisan service, accountable to the relevant Council and regulated by the Public Service Commission.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.16. Regional and Burgh Councils will have independent budgets, for which the law will determine the principles of formation and procedures. The Regional and Burgh Councils are required to maintain balanced budgets within specified limits.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.17. Regional and Burgh Councils shall be non-partisan in politics and secular.

4 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.18. The electorate is empowered to raise a Petition to Recall an Elected Member of a Regional or Burgh Council. The procedures are as provided for the recall of a Member of Parliament as outlined in Sections 6.1 and 6.2

2 comments · 16 Aug 2020
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Section 12.19. There will be provision for Regional citizen referendums, whereby a petition signed by one fifth or more registered voters calling for a popular vote on an issue of concern to the people within the Region is first referred to the Regional Council and then put to a popular vote if the issue of concern has not been responded to by the Regional Council.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 12.20. Regional Councils are statutory consultees in the preparation of parliamentary legislation. Burgh Councils have statutory rights of appeal if affected by arbitrary decisions of Regional Councils.

1 comment · 16 Aug 2020

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