Context for the Fairer Scotland Event – Marco Biagi MSP

Mr Biagi said a lot of things I liked to hear. He quoted the calculation from our 2012 report (PDF – see page 5) that arguably only 4% of Scotland’s electorate could vote in recent CC elections – the others were all uncontested due to lack of candidates. He is clearly interested in better mechanisms for local democracy and social justice (a priority for the SG), and looked forward to delegates’  views. He noted that one had come from Oban (100 miles each way) and appreciated that CC members are volunteers who may well have taken the day off work to attend this event.

I can’t help doing a little spreadsheet-wrangling at this point, using our list of CCs from 2014 and the registration list issued a day or so before the event.

I understand why distant LAs were unrepresented – none of the delegates at my table could claim travel expenses, and some had taken time off work hence losing either a day’s holiday or some pay. I think there’s a lesson there for future CC events. I’m  disappointed that there were only 4 Edinburgh representatives, including me – and I’m not an elected or co-opted CC member. (I’m minutes secretary and web-weaver for 3 Edinburgh CCs, so I think I do enough.)