Famed author Mark Twain once said: “There is no such thing as a new idea.”

And if you look at what the Scottish Government is suggesting in its local authority overhaul, you’d have to take his point.

Because anyone over the age of around 40 will remember that we had regional councils, with smaller district councils.

When regional councils previously ruled the lands

They were set up in the 1970s to replace small burgh councils and the old county system. They lasted just 20 years before they were replaced with the 32 local authority areas we currently have.

The reason for the change in the 1990s? To simplify things and improve efficiency and accountability.

It also allowed each council to operate in the method best suited for the area, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach decided by a regional authority.

In the Scottish Government’s proposal for public sector reform, it says its aim is to “help improve the delivery of public services and maximise the efficient use of public spending”.

Is that not just another way of saying what was said back in the 90s about getting rid of a two-tier system?

We need more information in order to decide if this idea is........

© The Courier