Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review: stage 2 - review of policy and delivery context

1. Introduction

This paper describes the recent, current and future policy and delivery context for Scottish Rural Action, the Scottish Rural Network and Community Led Local Development. The Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review (SRCPR), commissioned by the Scottish Government, commenced in late 2024 and will continue until early 2026. This project is reviewing these three elements of the current rural community support system and considering options for the future shape of the system^[1].

The Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review has five aims:

1. Evaluate the delivery of Community Led Local Development (CLLD), Scottish Rural Action (SRA) and the Scottish Rural Network (SRN),

2. Examine their strategic fit in relation to wider public and third sector interventions, identify their unique role and impact, any gaps or areas of duplication,

3. Consider and propose options for their future role, focus and delivery, including in relation to the Rural Support Plan and wider rural policy, and in the context of the forthcoming Rural Delivery Plan,

4. Consult and engage with a range of stakeholders,

5. Produce practical recommendations.

This interim output, a review of the policy context and delivery landscape, focuses on the period since 2020 to align with the timescale of the review (2020-21 for Scottish Rural Action; 2021-22 for Community Led Local Development and the Scottish Rural Network)^[2]. Reviewing the policy context and delivery landscape is important in:

a) understanding the context in which each initiative has evolved to date; and

b) understanding how this context may evolve and therefore inform the shape and function of these initiatives in future.

This understanding is critical to ensuring that the wider review being carried out from 2024-6 proposes evidence-based, robust and appropriate options and recommendations to inform the shape of the future rural support system.

The shape of this support system will become much clearer over the next 12-15 months as the Scottish Government’s Rural Delivery Plan and Rural Support Plan (described in the subsequent sections) move forward towards publication. In July 2024 there was a change at Westminster with the election of a Labour Government. This has implications for Scotland in terms of the extent, shape and priorities for United Kingdom (UK)-level funding and for policies in relation to reserved matters. It is also worth noting that the next Scottish Parliamentary election will be held no later than 7 May 2026. Manifestos for the election will be available before that which will give an idea of how far the different parties prioritise rural issues and what the support system may look like in future. This review is therefore being carried out within a wider context of current and future political changes and opportunities.