Architect Robin Clunie outlines how Scotland could look after everyone in society by taking control of its own land
THE essential points of this idea are that, with a straightforward amendment of the laws in land ownership, all land except that immediately attached to a residence is taken into the people's ownership in perpetuity.
A community buy out en-masse, if you like. This does not mean a nationalisation as that label is understood to signify. It is, rather, a democratisation of the ownership of all non-domestic land as it would be owned by the 'demos' – the people as a community asset with each having a right of say in how that land is used.
Exploring the ramifications of this on determining land use and outcomes would require an article on its own, so we’ll set that to the side for the moment.
The rents, rated according to land use, would be put to providing a basic social wage to all adults from age 16 and above and associated child allowances to all up to age 15.
The rents, rated according to land use, would be put to providing a basic social wage to all adults from age 16 and above and associated child allowances to all up to age 15.
Within the adult wage would be a defined set-aside sum for the setting up of community-guaranteed, individual, heritable pension funds, maturing at age 66. Therefore, there would be a 50-year pay-in period without breaks in contributions and guaranteed inviolate by the community. Early demise would see the pension pot going to the deceased’s families as part of their estate.
To ensure that the land assets are entirely within the control of the people and not the state or government agencies, it would be intended that there be a community-owned agency which, for the time being, we could call the Common Good Bank.
Each adult citizen would have one non-transferable, non-heritable share in the bank. From ownership of that share would derive the right to a dividend for themselves as a social wage and the allowances for their child dependants from the land rents.
The bank, as envisaged, would hold title to all the non-dwelling land in trust for the individual citizens, and collect the rated rent revenues due from leaseholders utilising the community lands for whatever activity and distribute the dividends and allowances.
To ensure that the land assets are entirely within the control of the people and not the state or government agencies, it would be intended that there be a community-owned agency.
Governance of the bank would be elective by the community shareholders nationally and locally. It is important to realise that since the bank is a community-owned agency under the direct, shared ownership of the people then the fitness of any proposed type of land usage would be determined freely and openly at a local, community level and that the scale of that community locale would be determined by the people themselves as to what makes them a definable community.
The central, national governing board of the bank would require to have delegated elected agents from each self-determining locale to ensure that local stays important within the overall operation of the agency. There's lots of room for debate there in how to get the balance between local and central right.
The wages for those employed within the bank and its delivery of the range of other social welfare provisions would continue to be met out of general taxation as at present. The pensions of these employees of the people would be met under the new provisions.
It is very likely that administrative costs will become very much less in running this simplified but more effective and equal system of welfare provision.
Whether the form of organisation of local sub-units of the bank under elected local management teams runs parallel to, or in conjunction with elective local authority governance would also be a matter for debate. My own preference is that they be separate but mutually supportive in the operation of each’s areas of authority.
It is estimated that with a national setting of land use rated rents, topped up with direct taxes on all buildings and private dwelling land on an 'area held' basis, that revenues of around £63.5bn can be realised.
It should be noted that under that arrangement each citizen would have two votes, one for their direct social welfare in determining land use and rents and a direct voice in all matters relating to the use of land; and their existing vote for the agency delivering their services provisions.
A tweak in the rental rates could also be used to provide the direct funding for local governance and services delivery. This would also ensure that the decision-making on gathering and use of those funds gives more voice to the people, not the administrative and governance machinery in what matters of service are prioritised in each locale.
It is estimated that with a national setting of land use rated rents, topped up with direct taxes on all buildings and private dwelling land on an 'area held' basis, that revenues of around £63.5bn can be realised.
At present, this approximate scale of wealth is used to support the lifestyles and aspirations of a minority of around 100,000 people or commercial interests.
The sum of wealth to be used for the adult social wage of £10,800 directly each year with a pension set-aside of £1,200 each year, and child allowances of £4,800 each year for each child amounts to around £53.88bn shared equitably amongst 5.3 million people.
By acting as a national community we will have provided to ourselves the guarantee that each will always be able to feed, clothe and house themselves and their dependants.
The surplus funds after delivery of dividends and allowances plus the set aside funds for pensions investments would allow for a sovereign wealth fund starter of around £15bn a year.
At the scale of provision envisaged, and by ensuring a basic minimum living standard to all, we ought to be able to lift the 800,000 plus of our fellow citizens who currently exist, not live, exist, in real destitution or working poverty out of that condition within a matter of a few years.
By acting as a national community we will have provided to ourselves the guarantee that each will always be able to feed, clothe and house themselves and their dependants.
From that base, then, it can also be seen that it will continue to be the work individuals engage in which shall provide for them the expanded social and living enhancements provided by an advanced technological society.
Since we are bound and determined that there will be equitable social justice for our free sovereign citizenry in the new Scotland then let’s make sure that we, the people, as a community, own the assets that will provide for each of us a basic level of financial security which will allow us to live as free a life as we each choose to have.
Let’s really own our society, all of us. Let’s all of us be free.
Picture courtesy of Our Land
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