Supporters say the community empowerment bill will radically reframe communities' access to the levers of power
A new law which aims to enable a revolution in grassroots decision making is due to be voted through the Scottish Parliament this week.
Supporters of a bill which will go before MSPs on Wednesday say that if passed it will make Scotland a world leader in devolving power to communities.
The community empowerment bill aims to make it easier for the public to contribute to decisions affecting them and to take greater control of local assets.
It would strengthen the rights of communities to buy land or buildings for public use and will put in place legislation compelling councils to deliver participatory budgeting, which gives people a more direct say in where cash is spent.
The bill is expected to be voted through at its final reading on Wednesday and has received the broad support of major third sector players, such as Oxfam, Barnardo’s, the Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
This is a timely bill and it’s part of our attempt to shift things from just being about consultation to being about participation
Marco Biagi MSP
Minister for local government and community empowerment Marco Biagi told TFN the bill represents the thirst for political representation which crystalised during the referendum debate.
He said: “The bill is vast. The uniting theme is that every part of the bill is about giving communities more decision-making powers and takes in a whole range of measures started out with eight substantive parts, now it has 11 substantive parts.
“It has grown just like a community grows when it comes together to work out how to solve its problems.
“What we have is a bill that puts direct community participation at the heart of policy. It’s part of a shift we want to undertake as a government.
“The First Minister in her programme for government said people should have more control over their own communities and future – that was a big motive for us during the referendum.
“The referendum is important here – whatever side you were on, it’s pretty clear that people in Scotland want to take part politically. Political awareness is at an all time high, so this is a timely bill and it’s part of our attempt to shift things from just being about consultation to being about participation.
“The implementation won’t be easy, there are so many elements to it, but it’s clear the will is there. It’s a big job it’s one worth doing.”
Charities have called for key ammendments in the bill to be kept in when MSPs vote on it.
These include the setting of minimum standards for the way the Scottish Government has to consult on national outcomes and giving communities and community bodies the right to appeal if public bodies turn down their request to be involved in setting local priorities.
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “These amendments strengthen the bill and help ensure that the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland are given a voice in the decision making process.
“We are concerned that without these amendments, the inequalities between the most and least affluent communities will widen.
“We hope that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government will listen to the voices of all of the organisations that supported these amendments and will ensure that empowerment is not removed from the bill.”
