1. Community Empowerment and the Scottish Government

2. Jean Waddie Bill Manager / Policy Officer Community Empowerment Team Community Planning and Empowerment Unit Public Bodies and Public Service Reform Division Jean.Waddie@gov.scot

4. Programme for Government Our ambition is for Scotland to be a country where every person, regardless of circumstances: Has the right to take part in debating and shaping the society that we live in and the decisions we take. Can influence the decisions that affect them and their families and can trust in the decisions the people they elect make on their behalf. Has opportunities and support to lead their own change, with others and on their own. Has a voice in their local community and be able to play their part in making it a sustainable and enjoyable place to live.

5. Scottish Community Empowerment Action Plan - 2009 Stimulates and harnesses the energy of local people to come up with creative and successful solutions to local challenges. Key to achieve a more successful Scotland and deliver our shared outcomes Communities doing things for themselves can be the best way of delivering change Many communities need support to build the skills, confidence, networks and resources they need to become more empowered.

6. Christie Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services - 2011 effective services must be designed with and for people and communities work closely with individuals and communities to understand their needs, maximise talents and resources, support self reliance, and build resilience embed community participation in the design and delivery of services prevention and tackling inequalities are key

7. Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 Strategic framework that will empower community bodies through the ownership of land and buildings and strengthen their voices in the decisions that matter to them. Also cements the focus on achieving outcomes and tackling inequalities.

8. Part 1: National Outcomes Scottish Ministers must consult on, develop and publish a set of national outcomes Must consult with persons representing communities, and have regard to inequalities Must report progress towards outcomes, and review them at least every five years Public authorities or organisations that carry out public functions must have regard to the national outcomes in carrying out their functions In force: 15 April 2016 (for new Government)

9. Part 2: Community Planning Places Community Planning Partnerships on a statutory footing imposes duties on all partners around the planning and delivery of local outcomes community bodies must be supported to participate at all stages Specific focus on tackling inequalities “locality plans” required at a more local level for areas experiencing particular disadvantage.

10. Part 3: Participation Requests Community bodies can put forward their ideas for improving outcomes, on their own terms From suggesting tweaks, to community body delivering service Process must be agreed unless reasonable grounds for refusal Community body is heard and issues explained

11. Part 10: Participation in Public Decision-Making Regulation-making power: Ministers may require Scottish public authorities to promote and facilitate the participation of members of the public in decisions on the activities of the authority, including in the allocation of its resources May specify authorities, decisions and persons to participate

12. Community ownership Asset transfer – right to request public sector land and buildings where community can make better use of them. Community right to buy – extended to urban areas. Right to buy abandoned, neglected and detrimental land without a willing seller. Supporter involvement and potential right to buy football clubs.

13. Part 4: Community rights to buy land Amends Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 extends community right to buy to all of Scotland, urban and rural, and improves procedures – in force 15 April 2016 amends the crofting community right to buy introduces right for community bodies to purchase land which is abandoned, neglected or causing harm to the environmental wellbeing of the community, where the owner is not willing to sell that land, where purchase is in public interest and compatible with sustainable development

14. Part 5: Asset transfer community bodies can request to purchase, lease, manage or use any land and buildings belonging to local authorities, Scottish public bodies or Scottish Ministers authority compares the benefits of the request (economic, social, health, environment, inequalities) to any alternative proposals request must be agreed unless there are reasonable grounds for refusal relevant authorities must publish a register of the land they own

15. Part 7: Football clubs The Scottish Government is committed to the principle that supporters should have a role in decision-making, or even ownership when the opportunity arises, of their football clubs The Act provides powers for Ministers to make regulations to facilitate supporter involvement and give fans rights in these areas Consultation on how the powers should be used closed 15 January.

16. Common Good – consultation on what is common good and before disposal or change of use Allotments – clarifies rights and duties, clear requirement to respond to demand. Non-domestic rates relief – power for local authorities to respond to local circumstances, encourage sectors or behaviours

17. Implementation Separate implementation by Parts Regulations and guidance being prepared Most Parts expected to be in force September 2016 (depending on new Government) Substantial decisions still to be made on football and participation in public decision-making

18. http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/engage @CommEmpower