Common sense is order of the day

SIR, – An academic paper by Sheffield University has suggested that the number of Scottish local authorities should be reduced from 32 to 17 – to save money and increase efficiency.

Just why Sheffield has an interest in Scottish local government is far from clear, but the university goes on to repeat blunders of the past in its paper by saying nothing about a remedy for the contempt Holyrood has shown for councils.

They have ignored what happened when Labour controlled the massive Strathclyde Council and how its representatives were heavy-handed at Cosla when ruling the roost, instead suggesting something very similar with a Greater Glasgow.

Perhaps a weighting adjustment in council Cosla representation