Sign pointing to council offices next to a person wearing a suit writing on documents, set against a colourful abstract background.

Festival of Politics 2025: Reshaping local government: a vision for Scotland’s future

ByFutures Forum Staff 20 August 202517 December 2025

It’s been 30 years since the controversial reorganisation of local government in Scotland. Is the current structure fit for the next 30 years?

At the Festival of Politics 2025 our panel reflected on historical lessons and explored innovative ideas for reshaping local governance. Did the creation of the Scottish Parliament come at the expense of strengthening local government?

Watch as the panel of experts discuss potential power-sharing models that may better serve our communities.

Chaired by Ariane Burgess MSP with guests:

Esther Roberton, a governance expert and lifelong public service leader.

Andy Wightman, a writer, researcher, and former MSP.

Dr Greg Stride, the principal researcher at the Local Government Information Unit.

and Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA’s Environment and Economy Spokesperson.

Arts&Culture | Blog to the Future | Session 6 | World Gaelic Week 2022

The Lights on in the Islands
ByFutures Forum Staff 21 April 20222 March 2023

A blog by Rhoda Meek, a crofter and businesswoman, on Scotland in 2045. Written originally in Gaelic for Seachdain na Gàidhlig in 2022, the blog explores how housing is central to islands communities.

Read More The Lights on in the Islands
Economy | Events and Resources | Housing | Local Government | Major Projects | Scotland 2030 Programme | Scotland 2030: Economy | Scotland 2030: Life in Future Scotland | Scotland 2030: Society | Session 5 | Society

Scotland 2030: A Sustainable Future for Urban Scotland
ByFutures Forum Staff 26 June 201920 June 2023

Wednesday 26 June 2019, at the Scottish Parliament Life in Scotland’s towns and cities is forecast to change significantly in the coming decades. Cities are set to continue to grow, facing the challenge of providing housing and services for new populations, while the role and place of towns in Scotland remains uncertain as traditional high…

Read More Scotland 2030: A Sustainable Future for Urban Scotland
Environment | Events and Resources | Session 6 | Society

Scotland 2045: A Sustainable Society
ByFutures Forum Staff 16 September 20213 March 2023

Online discussion from September 2021: What does a sustainable Scotland look like? How can we build a society that works for all our citizens? What changes do we need to make as individuals?

Read More Scotland 2045: A Sustainable Society
Arts&Culture | Blog to the Future | Session 6 | World Gaelic Week 2022

Windows on the world
ByFutures Forum Staff 11 April 20222 March 2023

In this blog, writer and publisher Màiri Kidd looks at how the translation of literature between languages – large and small – can give us other windows on the world. I was once told, I’m pretty sure – and if it’s not true, I don’t care, because it would be great if it were true…

Read More Windows on the world
Economy | Looking Beyond | Session 6 | Society

Collapse: an introduction
ByFutures Forum Staff 10 December 202510 December 2025

A colleague recently reminded me that to know our future, we must first understand our past, so I’ll start with the Earth system, out of which we evolved. This astonishing collection of matter and energy self-assembled into the wondrous place we inhabit today. Generally, things that self-assemble into interdependent systems, evolve in response to each other, and to their environments. Such systems tend to self-regulate.

Read More Collapse: an introduction
Economy | Environment | Events and Resources | Health | Housing | Session 6 | Society

Tackling 21st Century Inequality
ByFutures Forum Staff 23 August 20236 October 2023

What can be done to tackle the giants of 21st century poverty? This seminar in August 2023 with the David Hume Institute and Professor Danny Dorling explored whether Scotland is providing some answers.

Read More Tackling 21st Century Inequality

Similar Posts