(Image: PA)
Edinburgh’s unionist councillors have called on the Scottish Government to hold a referendum before making any major changes to the capital’s boundaries.
Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors approved a motion tasking council leader Jane Meagher with writing to First Minister John Swinney.
Under proposals for public sector reform mooted by the government in September, Scotland’s current 32 councils could be replaced with six to 10 regional authorities and as many as 160 community authorities.
Ministers want to agree a path forward on the reforms before the end of the year.
At Tuesday’s Policy and Sustainability Committee, Conservative councillor Neil Cuthbert proposed a motion calling for assurances relating to any future boundary changes.
Council leader Jane Meagher is to write to John Swinney. (Image: PA)
His motion, calling for a vote of local residents, was combined with a similar motion by Labour councillor Meagher.
“This decision is a clear statement that Edinburgh residents should have a direct say if the city’s boundaries are to change under the SNP’s reform plans,” he said.
The councillor went on to highlight the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2026, unanimously passed by MSPs earlier this year.
The bill, which brings Article 5 of the Charter into Scottish law, states: “Changes in local authority boundaries shall not be made without prior consultation of the local communities concerned, possibly by means of a referendum where this is permitted by statute.”
“We are simply asking the Scottish Government to apply that principle in Edinburgh, as the city did with the congestion charge referendum in 2005,” said Councillor Cuthbert.
“Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors have backed this democratic approach.”
The SNP and Scottish Greens voted against the motion, instead supporting an amendment which called on the council leader to invite Cabinet Secretary for Public Services Reform Ivan McKee to discuss “the retention of Edinburgh as a unitary council representing the capital city”.
“This three-month period for listening and dialogue clearly seems to many to be an aggressive timetable,” said SNP councillor Vicky Nicolson.
“It is the start of a process to which I hope we all agree could present options for our communities to have their outcomes acknowledged, measured and met.
Conservative councillor Neil Cuthbert. (Image: X)
“We all recognise we have challenges within public service delivery and fiscal challenges, to not take this as an opportunity to identify those strategic challenges and devolving those decisions to communities would be a missed opportunity.”
Conservative group leader Iain Whyte said the majority decision was a “sensible and cross-party outcome”.
“Major changes to local government structures and boundaries have significant consequences for communities, services and democratic accountability,” he added.
“There is an emerging consensus amongst councillors that Edinburgh, as the capital city, should remain regardless of any other changes to local authorities or any new more local bodies.
“We look forward to the Scottish Government’s response.”
Read more:
- Edinburgh councillor calls for referendum on major council boundary changes
- It's simple: Public sector reform must not mean sacking public sector workers
- Jenny Gilruth: Scotland’s public sector workforce reduction plans are ‘off course’
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has defended the controversial proposals, saying that potential reforms are 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,” she said when the paper was published last month.
“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."