SNP ministers are planning a major assault on Scotland’s town halls, forcing councils to relinquish power over crucial areas of public life. Under the confidential proposals, which are being discussed at the highest levels of government, neighbouring local authorities would have to merge some services. Councils would also have to devolve other functions down to local areas and hand over other roles to central government. Bin collections could be handled by individual towns and responsibility for all roads could be handed to Transport Scotland. The Times understands…

Source: The Times November 11, 2016 00:05 UTC