Democracy Matters: Steering Group minutes - June 2025

Attendees and apologies

Steering Group Members

• Katie Kelly, New Local (chair)
• Mick Doyle, Scottish Community Development Centre
• Pauline Smith, Chief Executive, Development Trust Association Scotland
• James Henderson, Local Democracy and Participation Academic
• Anna Baxendale, Head of Health Improvement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Jacqueline Greenlees, North Ayrshire Council
• James Henderson, Local Democracy and Participation Academic
• Willie Sullivan, Senior Director Campaigns and Scotland, Electoral Reform Society
• Tressa Burke, Chief Executive, Glasgow Disability Alliance
• Susan Paxton, Director of Scottish Community Development Centre
• Elizabeth Docherty, Director of Scottish Community Alliance
• Douglas Hendry, Executive Director, Argyll and Bute Council
• Paul Vaughan Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods, Fife Council
• Tanveer Parnez, Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland
• Rachel Nixseaman, Deciding Matters (Guest attendee)

 

Official Support

• Simon Cameron, COSLA Chief Officer, Corporate Policy Team 
• Garrick Smyth, COSLA Policy Manager
• Robyn Todd, COSLA Policy Officer
• Julie McLachlan, Scottish Government, Place Based Service Change
• Cameron Mellowes, Scottish Government, Local Governance Review
• Ryan Little, Scottish Government, Local Governance Review
• Christopher Robb, Scottish Government, Local Governance Review
• Kathleen Glazik, Scottish Government, Community Empowerment

Items and actions

The group Chair Katie Kelly began by welcoming members to the last formal session of the Democracy Matters Steering Group, outlining the progress of the work to date and the plan for the session, including recapping comments provided by members on a draft blueprint for community decision-making.

Officials provided an update on the wider Democracy Matters programme including noting the recent publication of the Programme for Government which confirmed that a blueprint for democratic community decision-making would be published before the end of the parliament and SG would be supporting a citizens’ assembly in Dunfermline. Officials also introduced Rachel Nixseaman from Deciding Matters who will be leading some work on integrating participatory processes into community decision-making models and steering group members would be invited to interact with that as a key workstream that will also consider a human rights based approach.

Officials then presented some of the key takeaways from the feedback on the blueprint document, noting that over 100 comments had been received. Key areas of feedback included:

• Greater clarity and definition is needed on the decision-making structure itself
• There needs to be more detail on accountability and regulation
• Further discussion is needed on the funding scenarios outlined in the blueprint
• Greater specificity regarding the support packages available to communities is required

Steering Group members emphasised the need for proactive approaches to equality and inclusion. It was agreed that this should also be considered as part of the next iteration of the blueprint. It was agreed that the final product blueprint should present a clear vision for communities that feels tangible and relevant.

Officials outlined proposed next steps for the development process, including plans to hold a series of smaller policy circle conversations to explore key themes from the blueprint and develop a rapid reiteration of the document. It was agreed that these themes would be:

• The structure of the community body (including the scale of new bodies, the role of Community Councils and other community organisations)
• Funding options
• Community capacity building and support
• Equalities
• Accountability and regulation

Group members requested for the timescales for holding the policy circle sessions to be relaxed slightly due the upcoming summer holidays and recess. Officials agreed to extend the sessions to mid-August. Officials also agreed to circulate a draft Terms of Reference for this work in advance of policy circles taking place.

It was also agreed that the policy circles should focus on developing a range of options for the blueprint, rather than trying to agree on a single approach or model. It was noted that this would also help community engagement.

Group members agreed that the next stage of engagement should involve communities of place and interest and the wider public sector. Group members confirmed that they were ready to help with this engagement and socialisation in the autumn.

It was also noted that as part of engagement that it will be important to raise the profile of Democracy Matters with health boards and what their role in its implementation might be.

Actions

Scottish Government Officials to gather preference and availability for each of the proposed policy circles and provide a proposed Terms of Reference for this stage of the process.