Argyll and Bute’s future needs democratic input

Sir,

The first Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland has submitted its final report to the Scottish Parliament, with its 60 powerful democratic recommendations aimed at improving the wellbeing of Scotland’s people and governance.

I personally would have loved to be a participant in this new democratic exercise, meeting and sharing with, speaking and listening to, a wide range of our people, many unlike me and

with different perspectives, opinions and lived experience.

To be informed by a range of expert, evidence-based perspectives, to explore and discuss implications and reservations and move towards a rough consensus on a range of key questions that will affect ourselves, our children and grandchildren and that will shape the future of our country is the exemplar of the active, responsible citizen of 21st century Scotland.

A climate assembly is also currently working towards its conclusions and I await its recommendations with interest and anticipation.

Recommendation six of the first assembly is: ‘That in order to ensure that citizens can make informed decisions in relation to rebuilding their communities, the Scottish government and parliament should establish community-based citizens’ assemblies to assess what is happening in our communities, including the effects of Covid-19, identify gaps and recommend actions, including through digital technology that can bring people together, and make our communities more inclusive.’

We have a Scottish election coming up in May and I hope to see a good majority of Scotland’s electorate, from age 16 upwards, vote in this most critical exercise of our moment of power and responsibility.

Subsequently, I hope see a renewed interest in local democracy as an Argyll and Bute Citizens’ Assembly debates and decides the shape of Argyll and Bute’s future for the coming decisive decade.

Perhaps that future will include enhanced interest and participation in some version of our current powerless and voiceless community councils.

Mary MacCallum Sullivan, Ardrishaig.