Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015: update and findings report

Conclusion and Next Steps

This report has provided findings from a review Parts 3 and 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to help inform what practical or statutory changes might be required to further empower communities. It has also provided details of an assessment of Part 2 Community Planning. Whilst this report has had a particular focus on legislation supporting community participation, community ownership of public assets and community planning, updates have been provided for all parts of the Act.

Overall, the findings of this report has concluded that the legislation has helped to make significant progress in supporting the empowerment of communities across Scotland. Nevertheless, to support further community empowerment and prioritise prevention, the review of Part 3 and Part 5, and the assessment of Community planning have identified that further work is required to maximise the potential of the legislation. More detail on next steps for each part of the Act are outlined within the relevant sections above, however the Scottish Government commits to taking specific actions to respond to the findings of this work, including:

• taking action to remove some of the barriers identified to community planning and reform, including work to strengthen collective leadership, transform funding, policy, reporting, accountability and data to enable partners to collectively bring services together around families
• delivering the joint Scottish Government and COSLA Community Planning Shared Priority Improvement Plan
• undertaking engagement with Public Service Authorities, Community Participation Bodies and interested stakeholders on the potential benefits of updating the Participation Requests Statutory Guidance
• undertaking targeted consultation with Public Service Authorities, Community Participation Bodies and interested stakeholders on the proposal for the adoption of a set of participation request principles
• exploring options with Public Service Authorities and Community Participation Bodies on ways to improve understanding of the Outcome Improvement Process and raise better awareness of the benefits of participation requests for when they are needed
• refreshing the remit and membership of the National Asset Transfer Action Group to consider the key findings of this report
• working with Relevant Authorities, COSLA, the refreshed National Asset Transfer Action Group and key stakeholders including COSS to explore options for gathering accurate and robust asset transfer data - including information on assets transferred into community ownership (asset type and area)
• working collaboratively with Relevant Authorities, Community Transfer Bodies, the refreshed National Asset Transfer Action Group and key stakeholders including COSS, to explore options to strengthen the operation of asset transfers including considering proposals to update the statutory guidance
• considering the value of independently evaluating the impact of community asset transfer ownership and lease on local communities and how this is contributing to community empowerment and public service reform