We now know, definitively, thanks to Collette Stevenson, SNP MSP for East Kilbride, that Transport Scotland is not a registered charity so thanks once again to Ms Stevenson for clearing that up. But in a similar vein, it’s worth asking what a Scottish council actually is, or should be, because it’s become far from clear. Is it, like Transport Scotland, a government agency, a way to deliver the government agenda with government money? Or is it more independent than that: a separate form of government with powers to act for the local area and raise the money it needs for local priorities.

The question matters now because the subject of councils – rather out of the blue I must say – has come up as part of the Scottish Government’s programme for government. The government has put forward a plan to scrap the current structure of 32 local authorities and replace them with between six and 10 larger regional councils. There could also be a level below that with 120-160 community authorities to deliver hyper-local services, which would mean Glasgow City Council being replaced by something considerably bigger but also the creation of new smaller authorities within the city. Quite radical stuff.

The possible motivation for the move is interesting, because we’ve been here before, and not very long ago either. The Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth says the reforms are being suggested to ensure investment is focused on frontline delivery, with the right staff in the right places to “empower communities and deliver real improvements in public services”. She also says existing local government responsibilities could be extended, which may include enhanced roles on economic and business development. Again: radical in its way but not a million miles from what a lot of people in the business community and campaigners on electoral reform have been suggesting for quite some time.

The hope must be that the Government is........

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