"What has happened regarding this subject since we published Helen Eadie's article in our May issue?"

Good question!

On ploughing through various pages of the Scottish Parliament Web-site I stumbled on a document dated 31st October 2003 which detailed the results of research carried out in Australia, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Isle of Man and Estonia, not all of it was complementary to the STV system.

However, the Scottish Executive have decided to go ahead and introduce a new system in 2007. To accommodate this the boundary commission are proposing enlarging councillor wards which means boundary changes 'again'.

Depending on the size of the new ward, 2, 3 or 4 councillors will represent the people. At election time all of the ward electorate will vote for 1st, 2nd choice etc.

At the moment we know who our councillor is as he/she represents a particular area and the person becomes well known within the community they represent. What will happen under the new system? How will all these people cover a huge area? Will they share different responsibilities? Or will they all do the same job, and, travel throughout the ward accumulating huge expenses? If the councillors represent different parties how can they ensure their party manifesto will be upheld? Does it matter?

Is there really a need for change?

Please send any views on this matter to editor@scotland4me.net

Scottish Parliament Web-site www.scottish.parliament.uk

©Scotland4me.net 2004