The Renewing Local Democracy Working Group (continued)

9. The Working Group’s Recommendations

i. Proposed Electoral System

Having considered the final three criteria Kerley found little between STV and AMS and thus returned to the key criteria of proportionality and the councillor-ward link.

When looking at the two classes of member that AMS would produce in comparison to the single type of members that STV provides the Working Group considered that STV best met the requirements of the remit.

As Kerley stated in the STV considerations - the size of multi-member wards have implications for proportionality and the recognition of natural boundaries. The Group believed that 4 member wards would usually balance the requirements, as they would be large enough to achieve good proportionality and offer a good link between the electorate and its councillors. Thus the report recommended that there should be flexibility in ward sizes - ranging from 3 to 5 member wards - to allow natural communities to be maintained within wards.

However the Working Group also recognised that in sparsely populated parts of Scotland 4 member wards would cover very large geographic areas. The Group believed that this would be to the detriment of the electorate. Thus the report recommended that in such areas of Scotland wards comprising a minimum of 2 councillors may be appropriate.

ii. Dealing with a new electoral system

The Working Group took into consideration the administrative implications of a new electoral system. A clear objective for the working group was to revive voter interest and thus they clearly did not want to choose a system which voters would find confusing.

The report stated that STV is a straightforward system particularly as, in contrast to AMS, there is only one ballot paper, with all the candidates listed on it. However the Group stated that a voter education campaign would be an essential element in the introduction of a new system.

iii. Introducing change

As the introduction of an electoral system will require legislation, a voter education campaign and the development of new administrative arrangements the Group recognised that it may be optimistic to believe that the system will be in place for the next local government elections in 2002. However the report urged the Scottish Executive to take an early decision on the date of implementation.