Andy Milne, chief executive of Scotland's Independent Regeneration Network (Surf), sees grounds for optimism in MSPs report on Scotland's regeneration strategy.
Historically the role of community groups in regeneration has been underestimated.
The focus on community-led regeneration in the Scottish Government’s 2011 regeneration strategy was as welcome as it was late. But the reality is we hadn’t invested substantially in community-led regeneration for decades.
In fact we’ve been taking money away from regeneration organisations and communities; that has been one of Surf’s main criticisms over the years.
Nationally, we spend around £9 billion a year on public sector procurement and we have spent £17bn on infrastructure investment over the last five years.
There has to be a stronger connection between these large-scale public investments and the important work of communities via development trusts, housing associations and other social enterprises.
If we could begin to connect to large public resources with local groups, local knowledge and local assets we could really begin to make a substantial difference.
If we could begin to connect these large public resources with local groups, local knowledge and local assets then we could really begin to make a substantial difference.
Local authorities know their current situation is unsustainable with their reducing resources and rising demands.
From recent discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and others, we understand they are now making moves to understand how they could connect more successfully with what community and voluntary groups can offer in service procurement and in informing big and local decision making processes.
They are also saying they want to understand how to create a better operating climate for community and voluntary groups to thrive in their area.
Having been sceptical over the last 10 years about the ability of community planning to bring these things together, I think government and local authorities are now looking much more seriously at genuinely cooperative approaches to community regeneration and Surf wants to support that.
Related articles
Communities denied say on regeneration
