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Listed below are comments made by scottishpatriot between Tuesday, 5th August 2008 and Tuesday, 5th August 2008.

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Loadsa luck, pal 2:28pm on 05 Aug 2008 Simon Brooke's interesting analysis of the size of Dumfries and Galloway compared to nation states, communes etc. is of little use because he leaves out the most important element of all which is a comparison of the differing responsibilities of communies, municipalities etc.

I have always found it odd that we need local councils to manage education when the state decides every detail of what is being taught and the selection and management of schools, same applies to social work. What is the benefit in having a management structure in Dumfries and another one in Ayr? Are children and other vulnerable individuals better served?

I believe in subsiduarity, where decisions are taken at the lowest practical level. However, I think when it comes to schools and social work that level ceased to be local government a long time ago.

Would it not be better to free councils from having to manage the services which the Scottish Government wants to control and allow them to concentrate on those things which really should be organised and controlled locally, such as planning and transport?

Two other points. Firstly, I think Brian's blog sets out clearly why we should take steps to move towards increasing the amount of their budgets which councils raise through their own direct taxes. Grants are a bad thing and we should want to free councils to stand on their own feet.

Secondly, I think it is sad that politicians don't want to rectify the disgraceful gerrymandered boundaries for local government which the Tories imposed on Scotland. Above all council boundaries should reflect the communities which mean something to the people who live locally.

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