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Swinney: 'Trust' local communities to make own decisions Swinney: 'Trust' local communities to make own decisions
(about 3 hours later)
The Scottish government wants to trust local communities with making "the big decisions about their own future", John Swinney is to tell the SNP conference.The Scottish government wants to trust local communities with making "the big decisions about their own future", John Swinney is to tell the SNP conference.
The deputy first minister and education secretary is to address the second day of the party's gathering in Glasgow.The deputy first minister and education secretary is to address the second day of the party's gathering in Glasgow.
Mr Swinney is to say the SNP will "put the national interest first" by devolving more power to a local level.Mr Swinney is to say the SNP will "put the national interest first" by devolving more power to a local level.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened the conference with a speech on Brexit and Scottish independence.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened the conference with a speech on Brexit and Scottish independence.
Some 3,000 delegates have signed up for the conference at the SECC.Some 3,000 delegates have signed up for the conference at the SECC.
Mr Swinney is expected to pledge to "go further" with the devolution of local decision-making in the new session of the Scottish parliament.Mr Swinney is expected to pledge to "go further" with the devolution of local decision-making in the new session of the Scottish parliament.
'Democratic landscape' Speaking ahead of his speech, he told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We have a fantastic opportunity in Scotland - particularly in the post referendum climate - to engage and motivate community solutions to the challenges that we face as a country.
He is to say: "We believe in our nation's ability to govern itself and we believe in our communities' ability to take power into their own hands. "We want to fulfil our manifesto commitment to engage in the local democratisation of Scotland and the empowerment of our communities."
"We want to re-invigorate local government by reconnecting it with communities. The principle of local control, not on behalf of a community, but by a community, is key. Health boards
Mr Swinney is expected to tell the conference later that the Scottish government believes communities have the ability to take power into their own hands.
He will also say: "We want to re-invigorate local government by reconnecting it with communities. The principle of local control, not on behalf of a community, but by a community, is key.
"We have already launched a review of how school education is governed, setting ourselves the task of making parents and teachers the key decision-makers in the life of our schools."We have already launched a review of how school education is governed, setting ourselves the task of making parents and teachers the key decision-makers in the life of our schools.
"We will review the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, and we will look again at the relationships between local authorities and health boards."We will review the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, and we will look again at the relationships between local authorities and health boards.
"We aim to achieve nothing less than to transform our democratic landscape, protect and renew public services and refresh the relationship between citizens, communities and councils.""We aim to achieve nothing less than to transform our democratic landscape, protect and renew public services and refresh the relationship between citizens, communities and councils."
Elsewhere at the conference, delegates will debate resolutions on topics including litter, welfare powers devolved to the Scottish parliament, and rural education.Elsewhere at the conference, delegates will debate resolutions on topics including litter, welfare powers devolved to the Scottish parliament, and rural education.
'Seek to remain in Europe'
After Ms Sturgeon told delegates that she will publish a consultation on a draft independence referendum bill, the conference will consider another resolution focused on Brexit and independence.After Ms Sturgeon told delegates that she will publish a consultation on a draft independence referendum bill, the conference will consider another resolution focused on Brexit and independence.
Friday's debate features a motion calling on conference to note "disappointment" with the result of the EU referendum, calling for "every avenue" to be explored "to keep Scotland in the EU".Friday's debate features a motion calling on conference to note "disappointment" with the result of the EU referendum, calling for "every avenue" to be explored "to keep Scotland in the EU".
It continues that "if no viable solution to safeguard our membership as part of the UK exists, Scotland should prepare for a second independence referendum and seek to remain in Europe as an independent country."It continues that "if no viable solution to safeguard our membership as part of the UK exists, Scotland should prepare for a second independence referendum and seek to remain in Europe as an independent country."