By Wilson Chowdhry
In Scotland, local democracy should mean that every resident — no matter where they live — has a fair and equal opportunity to engage with their council. Whether you want to ask a question, submit a petition, or speak at a meeting, those rights should be accessible, transparent, and meaningful.
Sadly, that’s not the reality today.
Across Scotland, councils take wildly different approaches to public participation. Some allow questions on any matter affecting the community; others restrict them to agenda items only — and in some places, they’re not permitted at all. Deputations (requests to speak to councillors) are sometimes ignored, mishandled, or blocked entirely.
For example, Clackmannanshire Council does not allow deputations or public questions at all. In Dundee, RAAC homeowners and campaigners have been repeatedly refused the opportunity to raise vital safety concerns, as councillors declined to list the issue on meeting agendas. Elsewhere, people face confusing procedures or are left without any guidance on how to take part in local democracy.
This inconsistency isn’t just inconvenient — it’s unfair. It means that the strength of your democratic voice depends on where you live, not on your right to be heard.
The Problem: A Participation Gap in Law
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act was designed to give communities more influence over local decisions. But while it encourages participation, it doesn’t set minimum standards for how councils must facilitate it.
That gap has allowed 32 local authorities to develop 32 different sets of rules — some inclusive, others restrictive. And there is currently no oversight body to ensure those rules are fair, consistent, or even properly implemented.
The Solution: A National Standard for Public Participation
That’s why I’ve launched a petition to the Scottish Parliament:
👉 PE2198: Establish a standardised and fair public participation process for all Scottish councils
The petition calls on the Scottish Government to introduce (or amend existing) legislation so that:
1️⃣ Every local authority must adopt, within a set timeframe, minimum national standards for public participation — covering public questions, deputations, and petitions.
2️⃣ An independent body should be designated to oversee and monitor compliance with these standards, ensuring councils are held accountable when participation is restricted or mishandled.
This proposal doesn’t undermine local democracy — it strengthens it. Councils would still control their own decisions, but they would all operate within a consistent, transparent framework that guarantees residents the same rights and opportunities, wherever they live in Scotland.
Why It Matters
Fair participation isn’t an abstract idea — it’s the foundation of accountable government. When councils are transparent and open to community input, decisions improve. When they’re not, trust breaks down.
Communities in areas like Clackmannanshire, where the council does not allow any public questions or deputations at meetings, know this problem all too well. Residents affected by the RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) crisis — a serious structural safety issue impacting public buildings and homes across Scotland — have been unable to raise their concerns directly before elected members. When councils prohibit public questioning altogether, communities lose their most basic democratic safeguard: the right to seek answers and accountability on issues that affect their safety, their homes, and their future.
We all deserve better.
How You Can Help
If you believe that every Scottish resident should have the same right to be heard — regardless of postcode — please take a moment to sign and share this petition.
🖋️ Sign the petition here: [link to the Scottish Parliament petitions page]
Together, we can build a fairer, more consistent system that puts community voices at the heart of local government.
Wilson Chowdhry
Petitioner – PE2198
Establish a standardised and fair public participation process for all Scottish councils
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