Scottish councils urge rethink on local governance reforms

Scotland’s proposed overhaul of local government has entered a new phase after council leaders called on ministers to rethink elements of the reform programme, raising fresh questions about how decision-making, including licensing functions, should be organised in future.

The intervention comes several weeks after the Scottish Government unveiled proposals that could replace the country’s 32 councils with a new two-tier system comprising between six and ten regional authorities and up to 160 community authorities. Under the plans, community-level bodies could assume responsibility for a range of local decisions, including licensing, planning and town centre improvements.

COSLA calls for a broader approach

According to reporting by BBC News, council leaders, through COSLA, have questioned whether structural reorganisation alone will deliver the desired improvements in public services. Instead, they have advocated an evidence-led approach focused on outcomes for communities, greater local empowerment and a wider review of governance and funding arrangements.

COSLA’s alternative vision would retain Scotland’s 32 councils as the starting point for reform while encouraging greater regional collaboration and shared service delivery. The organisation has also highlighted concerns about the pace of the Government’s proposed timetable and the scale of change being considered.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has described the proposals as a starting point for discussion and consultation rather than a final blueprint, with further engagement expected before any decisions are taken.

Scottish local government reform on the NTC2026 agenda

With local government reorganisation increasingly affecting licensing practice across the UK, the issue will feature prominently at next week’s Institute of Licensing National Training Conference.

A dedicated session,”Local Government Re-Organisation and Devolution – Impact on Licensing“, is scheduled for 1:50pm to 3:25pm in Ballroom A as part of the conference’s wider focus on reform and devolution. The session will explore the practical implications of local government restructuring for licensing authorities and practitioners.

The conference programme notes that local government reorganisation and devolution form a major theme of this year’s event, reflecting the increasing importance of structural reform initiatives across England, Scotland and Wales.