THE REFORM OF SCOTTISH LOCAL-GOVERNMENT

The reorganization of local government in Scotland has been linked by ministers to the abolition of the pall tax. Me process has been minist erially driven with opinion canvassed through the publication of two c onsultation papers. One clear objective is to end the redistributive c apacity of the large regions by the creation of a uniform single-tier system of local government throughout Scotland. However; the requireme nt on the new authorities to produce a scheme for adminstrative decent ralization within a year of their establishment may compromise the pro mised simplicity of a single-tier structure. Alan Alexander and Kevin Orr discuss the implications of these changes for democratic accountab ility and the internal management of local authorities.