Open Government action plan 2021 to 2025: commitment 5 – participation milestone progress
Milestones progress summary for Scotland's Open Government action plan participation commitment for 2021 to 2025.
Institutionalising participatory and deliberative democracy
Milestone: beginning processes of change to make participation routine and effective
Timescales
Autumn 2021 onwards.
Where we started
The IPDD working group published its report and recommendations in March 2022 – these would begin the process of making participation routine and effective. Scottish Government published its response to these in March 2023, agreeing to most recommendations.
What changed and why
The implementation of these has been delayed by budget challenges, specifically around the recruitment of staff for a Participation Unit which would be responsible for delivering this work.
Where we are now
Senior staff are considering how a central participation team could be established and when the commencement of this work can undertaken in the future, taking account of the current fiscal position.
What activity this will involve
As decisions are pending, activities associated with this work are currently unknown. When possible, milestones to measure progress against IPDD recommendations will be outlined.
Milestone status
In progress, behind schedule.
Milestone: embedding Open Government principles in the planning, conduct and outputs of annual Citizens’ Assemblies
Timescales
From December 2021.
Where we started
At the start of the current parliamentary team, Scottish Government was committed to running regular Citizens’ Assemblies – this is because the SNP manifesto included a commitment on this.
What changed and why
Due to ongoing budget constraints, Citizens’ Assemblies committed to by Scottish Government have been postponed or are being delivered in a different form.
Where we are now
We remain committed to this ambition but at present we are unable to deliver substantial progress on this commitment.
In the interim, our focus will be to progress early actions recommended by the IPDD working group, to lay the foundations for the routine use of deliberative forms of participation, including CAs when budgets within government allow.
What activity this will involve
Our focus will be to progress foundational actions recommended by the IPDD working group.
Milestone status
Delayed.
Contact
Email: opengovernment@gov.scot