SA1: Living in A Democracy

Local Government

Local Government in Scotland

Aims:

• Identify the local authority we live in.• Examine the different services provided by the

local authority.

Background:

• Scotland is divided into 32 local authorities (or councils).

• Local council elections are held every 5 years.• The local authority is responsible for providing

services for the public to use.

Our local authority is called Argyll and Bute. Colour and label this on your map of Scotland.

Using pg 39 complete the diagram below to show the different types of services provided by a local authority.

Remember to write a brief description for each service.

Local Council

Services

Local Council Elections

Aims:

• Understand how the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system works.

• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of STV.

Single Transferable Vote

• STV was first used in the 2007 local council elections.

• Scotland is divided into multi-member constituencies e.g. each constituency elects 3 or 4 local councillors.

• Voters vote for candidates in order of preference.• To be elected a candidate has to reach a quota –

a certain number of votes.• The surplus votes of the winners would be

redistributed to those who did not reach the quota.

• This would continue until the full number of councillors are elected.

Advantages• No wasted votes. If a voter fails to get their first choice, the

vote will be reallocated until it is counted. • Small parties Have a better chance of getting a candidate

elected. One party is less likely to dominate.• Greater choice for voters – they can choose all the

candidates in a party or all women candidates etc.• Coalitions between parties are more likely – this will

encourage parties to work together to benefit everyone.

Disadvantages:

• Can be complicated to understand/organise.• Often leads to coalition government as no party has a

majority – nobody has voted for a coalition.• Smaller parties get too much power – their support can

determine who is in a coalition government.• Representatives do not have such a direct link with their

constituents..

The Work of a Local Councillor

• Belong to council committees which make decisions about services e.g. education committee.

• Hold surgeries to enable the public to come to them with problems/complaints about services.

• Attend meetings of the full council which make major decision e.g. the budget for each council department.

• Speak to council departments about issues affecting people in their ward (local area).

• Publicise local issues in the media e.g. closure of a local school

• Attend meetings of local organisations or local events.