Community Wealth Building Bill Steering Group minutes: October 2023

Attendees and apologies

• Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance (Chair)
• Martin Avila, Chief Executive, Community Enterprise in Scotland
• Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager, Supplier Development Scotland
• Rob Davidson, Strategy Manager, Community Wealth Building, South of Scotland Enterprise
• Stacey Dingwell, Head of Policy, Federation of Small Business (substitute for Colin Borland)
• Shona Dunsmore, Scottish representative for The Business Services Association Scotland (BSA)
• Rachel Le Noan, Representative from SCVO (substitute for Anna Fowlie)
• Euan Leitch, Chief Executive, Scotland’s Regeneration Forum (SURF)
• Calum Lindsay, Policy Manager, COSLA
• Cllr Gail MacGregor, Environment and Economy Spokesperson, COSLA
• Calum Iain MacIver, Director of Environment, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Neil McInroy, Chair of the Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS)
• Valerie McNeice, Programme Manager, Glasgow City Region
• Mags McSporran, Head of Social Enterprise Development, Highlands & Island Enterprise
• Dona Milne, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian
• Paul Morris, Economic Development Strategy Officer, Clackmannanshire Council (substitute for Nikki Bridle)
• Barbara Morton, Director, Sustainable Procurement
• Sinead O’Donnell, Project Manager, Fife Council
• Andy Paterson, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Social Enterprise Scotland
• Mhairi Paterson, Economic Policy Manager, North Ayrshire Council (substitute for Emma McMullen)
• Lucy Robertson, Managing Director, Craigforth Consultancy and Research
• Elizabeth Shevlin, Deputy Director for Coherent Learning Provision at the Scottish Funding Council
• Niki Spence, Representative Clyde Gateway (substitute for Martin McKay)
• Duncan Thorp, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Social Enterprise Scotland
• Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables
• Darah Zahran , Social Economy Manager, Scottish Enterprise

APOLOGIES

• Nikki Bridle, Chief Executive, Clackmannanshire Council
• Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Anthea Coulter, Chief Executive, CTSI 
• Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
• Martin McKay, Chief Executive, Clyde Gateway
• Emma McMullen, Senior Manager Economic Policy, North Ayrshire Council

Scottish Government

• Stephen White, Head of Community Wealth Building
• Julie McLachlan, Community Wealth Building Legislation and Policy Manager
• Tracy Jackson, Community Wealth Building Policy Manager
• Louise Tannasee, Senior Policy Officer
• Lorraine Wylie, Senior Legislation and Policy  Officer
• Joe Dickson, Private Secretary

Items and actions

Welcome from the Chair

The Minister welcomed attendees to this meeting of the steering group, including new representatives from Scottish Funding Council and Clyde Gateway. The Minister advised the purpose of the meeting was to allow the Group the opportunity to discuss the Consultation Analysis Report ahead of its publication (scheduled for 26 October 2023).  The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed by the steering group.

Presentation on CWB Legislation Consulation Analysis

The Minister invited Lucy Robertson of Craigforth Consultancy and Research to present to the group on the independent analysis of the consultation undertaken by Craigforth. 

Discussion on the findings of the Consulation Anaylsis

The Minister and CWB team facilitated a discussion following the presentation.  The steering group provided comment and feedback including:

• Capacity building, resourcing and funding feedback aligns with the feedback received from community organisations. Accountability is also a key issue including the accountability to wider public sector and communities.
• Keen to ensure that a duty aligns with work already underway and the locally-led approach. The Minister highlighted that CWB legislation will be enabling and seek to consolidate gains already made. Key focus of CWB is a place where  legislation could help bring statutory weight to encourage key partners to contribute to efforts.
• The Minister would welcome further engagement from the private sector regarding CWB and is keen to hear views from the group on how we might support this.
• Health Boards have been asked to develop anchor plans and keen to ensure any wider CWB activity does not cause duplication.  Ongoing Anchors work is encouraging and a valued contribution to wider aims of CWB, helping to deliver CWB ambitions by exploring the economic levers procurement, workforce and land and assets.  SG CWB are continuing to ensure updates are provided to the Health Anchor Delivery Group regarding the development of legislation to ensure alignment.

• Need for Regional Economic Partnership to be involved and aligned with CWB ambitions. The Minister outlined that it will be important legislation and will work within the existing landscape and is aligned to wider public service reform such as the Local Governance Review.
• Given the comprehensive nature of proposals received during the consultation, it will be important to prioritise and focus on the outcomes we want legislation to achieve. A range of public bodies that we have looking to influence and public bodies that have varying responsibilities. The Minister highlighted that a place-based focus is important and therefore the legislation needs to allow for flexibility.

Next Steps

SG CWB team provided update on progress in development legislation following the consultation outcomes.  In terms of the CWB duty proposal, further internal analysis has been carried out on views from Local Authority and Public Bodies regarding a potential CWB duty that have been shared via the consultation.  Officials outlined the need to align with both the Verity House Agreement and the response to a recent Committee inquiry on CPPs. Officials will provide advice to Ministers regarding the duty options and will engage further with particular stakeholders including COSLA. Officials are also exploring the feasibility of the circa 100 legislative proposals received via the consultation, working with policy areas across SG. Officials hope to provide a further update on progress in coming months.

NSET Inclusive Business Model Review

Neil McInroy provided an update on the review group’s recent meetings and progress so far.   The review group will meet in November with upcoming workshops.  The planned workshops will focus on addressing issues previously raised which will aid the final report due to be published early 2024. 

The linkages with the New Deal for Business was highlighted by a Group member.

Any other business and date of next meeting

The Minister thanked steering group members for their participation in the meeting and asked that group members promote the consultation analysis report.

Actions arising

BSG members to promote consultation analysis report when published to their networks.