Publication - Progress report

Democracy Matters: Route Map for Reform Easy Read

Published: 20 April 2026
Directorate: Public Service Reform Directorate
Topic: Communities and third sector, Programme for Government, Public sector
ISBN: 9781807751616

An easy read version of a route map that lays out reform proposals for empowered community decision-making and the work needed to deliver it.

Supporting documents

What is Democracy Matters?

Democracy Matters helps us understand how communities and governments can think about how decisions can be made in local areas.

Democracy Matters began with 2 phases. It spoke with communities and the public sector. It aimed to bring people together to speak about decisions about where they live.

A group of experts in community development and decision making came together to help the Scottish and Local Government come up with ideas for change.

This group has leaders from the public sector, equalities groups, the 3^rd sector and universities. More work will be decided after the 2026 Parliament Election.

Why Community Governance Reform?

Community Governance reform means changing the way decisions are made in communities.

Scotland has lots of organisations and groups that support decision making.

Over 1 thousand Community Councils work to support community engagement and public services.

The Scottish Government know many people feel far away from politics. They feel unheard. They do not feel empowered.

The principles for this work are being involved, openness, sharing power and knowing who is responsible for what. Structures need to change to make things happen.

Some communities have said they do not feel included. Some of these people already face barriers in society. This includes people with disabilities, from ethnic minority backgrounds and children and young people.

New structures aim to build on the work of our communities. We will:

Make sure public services respond to priorities and needs while making community planning simpler.

Give communities stronger rights and powers to take decisions.

Make sure local decision making is inclusive. Local people should be represented. We need to think about inequalities.

Build trust in communities and with the public sector. Understand communities know what they need best.

Build skills and local leadership to take decisions about what is important.

Decisions should be made locally. We will introduce new ways of working between communities and the public sector.

We will support communities to address challenges they have. This will improve health and wellbeing. It will protect public services for future generations.

Community Governance Reform Proposals

Proposals should allow:

1. Communities to be involved in more decisions about public services and spending. There should be a shared plan. This should be made by communities. It should include priorities and needs of the area.

2. These plans should build on work already done by communities and the public sector.

3. New plans could focus on a few priorities. Plans and work can expand in time.

4. Communities already have rights in planning decisions. These reforms ask for more involvement and rights.

5. Plans should have regular community involvement. There should be open and clear communication. This will help support local priorities.

6. Plans should be led by a community body that represents the local area. It should bring together different members of the community, public sector and community organisations.

7. Structures also need to be inclusive and accessible. They need to include those who face inequalities.

8. We will make sure there are shared standards and guidance for community decision-making.

9. We will make sure there are shared standards and guidance for community decision-making.

10. There will be a shared set of community rights and powers. Communities will know who is doing what work. We will provide support when relationships break down or arguments happen.

11. Public bodies will have budgets that look at local priorities. Communities will be involved in the process and decision making. Public bodies that do not follow local plans need to be clear why.

12. Community bodies may control some budgets. This is for communities who feel ready to take on responsibilities. They will say how they will manage it.

13. Government funding for communities could be simpler. This will help communities get fairer funding or make their own income. They will own more land and resources.

14. There will be more support for community development and upskilling. They will work with the public sector to lead changes. This can help communities take on more responsibilities.

15. New rights will hold public bodies responsible to support communities. They will engage with community plans.

What this could look like

Communities are diverse. Diversity means having people from different backgrounds. Decision-making needs to change between different areas and places. We need to do more to know how this will work:

A Community body or structure will make a local plan. This could be led by the community council or by a local 3^rd sector group. They must bring all key organisations together.

There is inclusive involvement. Communities will be able to use local information to know their area’s needs. We aim to reduce barriers to being involved.

Speak and engage with a wide range of people. Try to reach people who are excluded from decision-making. This will help to understand wider community needs.

The plan is approved by the community.

Approved plans will be supported by the public sector to deliver on community priorities.

Organised events will allow the community to ask for updates of the plan. They can make sure the budget is being used well. They can ask for the plan to be changed.

The community body will manage the work with the public sector. They will make sure information is clear and accessible. They will show what has been done. They will show the impact of the work.