Deal is 'attack on the rights of councils'

OPPOSITION councillors have branded a new agreement between the city council and the Scottish Government a "full-frontal assault on the rights" of local authorities.

The concordat deal between the Government and the country's 32 councils requires the development of a "single outcome agreement" by each local authority, based on an agreed set of national principles.

A draft document produced by city council officials has been submitted to the Government, which includes local goals such as tram line three and new schools.

But the council's Labour and Tory groups have warned the document will take away the authority's rights to make decisions.

Former Labour Lord Provost Eric Milligan said: "This is a full-frontal assault on the rights of local government, taking away freedoms that we have enjoyed for hundreds of years.

"This document is a precursor to taking away the right to have our own way of raising money. We are handing our responsibility over to central government."

But council leader Jenny Dawe said: "I'm appalled by the ignorance of what this document actually is. This is not about giving up our rights."