Scotland’s current 32 council structure could be scrapped and replaced with a two-tier system of regional and more local bodies, under Government proposals.
The Scottish Government pledged to reform local government and published its initial offering on Monday.
The proposals were published to “aid discussion” around the final plans.
The 1,800-word paper suggested replacing the current structure with between six and 10 regional authorities, which could be given powers over larger planning decisions, education and economic development, and between 120 and 160 more local “community” authorities, which would control local planning decisions, licensing and the historic environment.
Some decision-making is best delivered at national level and regional level while others better sit closer to communities and we must get that balance right
The paper also suggested that responsibilities currently held by one of Scotland’s roughly 130 public bodies could be given to either of the authorities.
Separate set-ups for Scotland’s islands would also be required, according to the paper.
Funding models would likely be one of the more fraught areas of the new proposals with the Government refusing to currently stake a position.
Under the Government’s plans, councillors would continue to be elected under the current ward system and would sit on both the local and regional authorities, though the paper suggests the increased time commitment may require a boost in councillor pay.
Stressing that the position paper was a “starting point” for discussion, Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “Reforming Scotland’s public sector is about delivering the best public services for people across Scotland.
“We need to ensure investment is focused on frontline delivery, with the right staff in the right roles to empower communities and deliver real improvements in public services.
“Some decision-making is best delivered at national level and regional level while others better sit closer to communities and we must get that balance right.
“Existing local government responsibilities could also be extended, including enhanced roles in economic development and business support so that individual areas can reflect local strengths and ambitions.
John Swinney and his ministers are clearly making it up as they go along
“These proposals are intended to provide a starting point to facilitate debate and discussion as we work to deliver reforms that strengthen public services and improve outcomes for the people and communities we serve.”
The proposals were criticised by political parties including the Scottish Conservatives.
Local government reform spokesman Alexander Burnett MSP said: “John Swinney and his ministers are clearly making it up as they go along rather than being honest with Scots about what they are planning.
“After getting the easy headlines, ministers are already showing signs that no work had been done beyond that.
“Restructuring local government and the delivery of local services that councils provide is far too important to be taken forward with half-baked measures.
“The SNP have a terrible track record when it comes to reforming public services and the Scottish Conservatives will continue to demand Swinney comes clean on his proposals, especially with local council elections looming next year.”
Scottish Labour’s local government spokesman Joe Fagan said: “Local services are under increasing pressure right across Scotland and too many communities are being let down.
“It’s clear things need to change but it is crucial that we get this right. The Scottish Government must not blunder into another reorganisation.
“Any reforms must be made in partnership with local government and backed up with fair funding for local services.
“Scottish Labour will work to ensure any changes deliver genuine improvements to local services.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat local government spokeswoman Morven-May MacCallum MSP said: “The Government needs to tell us what evidence there is that their plans will lift Scottish education back up the international rankings, speed up planning, fix the potholes or ease the financial strain on local services.
“Councils should be able to make decisions that are right for their local areas.
“They should not be subject to another wave of SNP centralisation or cuts, which have already caused so much harm in communities across the country.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to renew local government by treating it as an equal partner and respecting its role in providing the essential services we all rely upon, giving councils multi-year funding deals, more powers over local taxation and new freedoms to innovate.”
The Scottish Greens said scrapping and replacing the council tax system must be at the core of the proposed changes.
Kristopher Leask MSP, the party’s local government spokesman, said: “We need to give councils and communities real power, and create a system that works for the people it is meant to serve.
“That must start with funding our councils properly. We need to finally scrap the broken council tax system and replace it with a fairer way of funding local services like schools and libraries.
“Nobody can seriously say the current system is working, least of all the Scottish Government, when its own research shows less than one in five Scots feel they can influence decisions affecting their local area. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road when the funding model is so clearly broken.”