What's happened
The Scottish government has published draft plans to replace 32 councils with six to 10 regional authorities, backed by 120–160 community authorities to manage local issues. Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth calls the reforms a starting point for debate as Holyrood and Cosla review the proposals.
What's behind the headline?
Brief
- The plan consolidates councils into regional authorities (6–10) while creating 120–160 community bodies to handle local decision-making.
- It also envisages dual mandates for councillors and potential pay adjustments, with islands receiving separate arrangements.
What this means
- Frontline delivery would be reinforced as investment focuses on regional bodies and community authorities, aiming to streamline services and reduce duplication.
- Local voices would be preserved through community authorities, but the balance between national and regional powers will be critical to watch.
Forecast
- If adopted, expect parallel debates on funding, council tax replacement, and capacity-building for regional bodies; timing of the public consultation remains pivotal.
How we got here
The proposals form part of John Swinney’s public sector reform strategy amid budget pressures. The plan envisions regional authorities handling strategic decisions, housing, planning, and economic development, with community authorities managing local planning, licensing, and local services. Elections would continue within existing wards, and island arrangements would be tailored separately.
Our analysis
BBC Business reports on Sep 21–22, 2026, noting the plans to replace 32 councils with 6–10 regional authorities and 120–160 community authorities. The Scotsman and BBC Scotland coverage highlight Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth’s framing of the reforms as a starting point and emphasize budget pressures and potential dual mandates.
Go deeper
- What specific powers will regional authorities gain over housing and transport?
- How will island communities be treated differently under the new structure?
- What funding changes are being proposed to support this transition?
More on these topics
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John Swinney - Deputy First Minister of Scotland
John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician serving as Deputy First Minister of Scotland since 2014 and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills since 2016.
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Jenny Gilruth - Member of the Scottish Parliament
Jennifer Madeleine Gilruth is a Scottish National Party politician who has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Mid Fife and Glenrothes since 2016. She has served as Minister for Europe and International Development since 2020.
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Scotland - Country of the United Kingdom
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96 mile border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and w
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Holyrood - Wikimedia disambiguation page
Holyrood is an area in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, lying east of the city centre, at the foot of the Royal Mile. The area originally took its name from Holyrood Abbey, which was the Church of the Holy Rude. Holyrood includes the following sites: T