Consultation on proposal to allow proxy voting by councillors

Closed 28 Nov 2024

Opened 3 Oct 2024

Overview

We want to hear your views on a proposal to allow for proxy voting by councillors.  Proxy voting would allow a councillor to nominate another specified councillor to vote on their behalf during Council and Committee decisions.  The absence of proxy voting could impact on councillors on parental leave or those who are unable to attend for another reason such as an accident or serious illness.

Read the consultation paper.  The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.

Useful information about responding to this consultation

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

A analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).

What happens next

After the consultation has closed an analysis report will be published which will summarise the findings based on all the responses submitted.  Subject to the views of the consultation and if supported the Scottish Government would seek to introduce proxy voting provisions at the earliest possible legislative opportunity.

Interests

  • Constitution and Democracy
  • Main hub