Call for Council to continue to lobby over Boundaries Scotland review

At a meeting of the Cross Party Council Boundary Review Group held earlier this week members expressed their disappointment with the Boundaries Scotland review of Electoral Arrangements for the Highland Council Area, which has been submitted to the Scottish Government, and were united in calling for further representation to ensure the voices of communities are heard.

A report will be discussed at the meeting of The Highland Council next Thursday (24 June) which provides a summary of the final proposals submitted by Boundaries Scotland. Members will consider where the status quo has been maintained or where minor boundary adjustments have no impact on ward representation and whether to oppose any more fundamental changes, particularly where this has led to a reduction of ward membership. Members will also consider whether these should instead await the Local Governance Review and outcomes of the Scottish Government’s work on addressing West Coast depopulation. The report also seeks members agreement to continue lobbying, by writing to the Deputy First Minister, Highlands and Islands MSPs and the Chair of the Local Government and Communities Committee to express the concerns raised by the Review’s proposals.

The proposals submitted by Boundaries Scotland (previously named the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland) include the reduction of Councillors from 3 to 2 in the North, West and Central Sutherland ward. Also affecting the West Coast is the proposal to reduce the number of Councillors for Skye and Raasay – from 4 to 3 and to alter the boundary of the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Ward andreducing the number of Councillors from 4 to 3 in what is the largest geographical ward in Europe.  Another reduction of Councillors is proposed within the Aird and Loch Ness Ward which would see the Loch Ness community split into two with part of the ward being moved into a new Inverness South West ward.

The Review proposes reducing the total number of Council wards from 21 to 20, with the Inverness ward boundaries re-drawn to accommodate the change.

The report will also highlight concerns raised over equalities impacts, population projections, democratic deficit and how the proposals go against the Scottish Government’s commitment to strengthen island communities following the introduction of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018; address de-population, especially in fragile areas; as well as issues with proposed ward names and boundaries which will split communities.

Leader of the Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: “Any reduction in local representation is bad and would not only have a negative effect on the communities that we serve but would make it very difficult indeed for some of our councillors to effectively carry out all of their duties. With elections taking place next year we want to encourage people to step forward and consider standing, not making the role of elected members even more challenging than it is.

“Since Boundaries Scotland started work on their review in 2019 a lot has changed. Not only is our population predicted to significantly rise but since the Covid-19 pandemic the whole way we have been delivering our services and engaging with our constituencies has changed.

“There is deep unhappiness in our communities. During the consultation period our communities gave strong representation using their local knowledge on the geography and parity for people wherever they live. They feel their voices are being ignored and as Councillors we are hearing “Why is no one listening to us.”

“I strongly feel what is proposed by this Review is in direct contrast to the Scottish Government’s commitment to address issues of de-population, strengthen island communities and parity for all the individuals and community groups we represent. This is why at our meeting I will be calling for us all to engage with MSPs, especially those who represent the Highlands and members sitting on the Local Government and Communities Committee and continue to lobby for the voice of the Council and the communities we represent to be heard.

Leader of the opposition, Cllr Raymond Bremner says at the Council meeting he will want to particularly highlight the inappropriate timing of the Boundaries Scotland’s  review. He said: “We have the Local Government elections next year and in 2023 the Scottish Government will be doing a full scale Local Governance Review  which is why we are largely calling for the status quo until this big piece of work to look into the whole issue of democracy has taken place.

“It makes no sense to press ahead with changes at this stage. Our population is projected to increase so I cannot understand the logic behind losing local representation. We should be increasing it not cutting it. Wester Ross has the largest ward in Europe. We want complete parity for our constituents not a West Coast/East Coast divide.

“The report we will be discussing makes clear that we are calling a freeze frame – to take stock and wait for the Local Governance Review to be undertaken.”