APPOINTMENTS
Monday 17 June
The visitors were met at the hotel and escorted to The Scottish Office where they were introduced to Mrs Stewart, assistant secretary, Local Government Division, for a briefing on the role and structure of local government in Scotland. Mrs Stewart described how local government in Scotland is roughly based on the recommendations made in the Wheatley Report in 1969. Mrs Stewart gave a breakdown of the number of regional and district councils. Mrs Stewart also touched on recent amendments to councillors allowances. The visitors were then introduced to Mr Batho, principal, Central Services, for a briefing on the role and structure of local government finance in Scotland. Mr Batho gave a detailed account of the past rates system and its problems. He then explained the pros and cons of the present Community Charge system. Mr Batho then detailed the proposals for the new Council Tax which will be a property based tax with allowances for certain groups within the community. The visitors were interested in the role of central government and asked about the relationship between central and local government. The visitors were also interested in the new Council Tax enquiring as to how the government could possibly assess all houses in Scotland. Mr Batho explained that a system of property bands was being considered.
The visitors met Ms Luce, deputy director of communications, Scottish Conservative Party, for a briefing on the policies of the Party. Ms Luce discussed the difficulties the Party was facing in Scotland due to the small number of Conservative MP's returned at the last election. The Party is also targeting young people to recruit more Conservatives for the future. Ms Luce explained the changes Conservatism has brought to the "man in the street". People have been encouraged to buy their council homes through the Right to Buy and Rent to Mortgage schemes. This policy is proving to be very successful. Ms Luce also identified the changes in education which give more power to the parents through the introduction of School Boards. She explained that School Boards give parents direct input into how best to use limited resources. The visitors enjoyed the briefing and asked many questions particularly about how the Party structured its recruitment campaign aimed at young Scots.
Tuesday 18 June
The visitors met Mr Waddell, director, Scottish Liberal Democrats, for a briefing on the policies of the Party. Mr Waddell explained how the Party was formed by the merging of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party. Mr Waddell gave figures on the growth of the Party in recent years and particularly the growth within local government. In the UK in 1976 there were 200 Liberal councillors compared with 4,000 in 1991. Council terms the Liberal Democrats are second to Labour in Scotland. Mr Waddell also outlined the Party policies for the Scottish Constitutional Convention and a new pollution tax. Mr Waddell also identified Green issues as being high on the agenda.
In
The visitors enjoyed a conducted tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse before meeting Mr Sturt, deputy director of administration, City of Edinburgh District Council. Mr Sturt explained the differences between the district and regional councils and the areas each council supervise. Mr Sturt gave a breakdown of the political structure of the Council's elected members. The Council employs 4,500 people within
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