Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review: Stage 4 Final Report

4. Approach to developing recommendations

This final project report synthesises all the evidence collected. Only a summary of the evidence base is provided here as context for the recommendations, and we cross-reference to other project publications where appropriate.

Within the policy framework set out at section 2, the recommendations presented here are based around a set of core principles for delivering rural communities policy in Scotland, including the need to:

• articulate a positive narrative and vision for rural Scotland, supported by outcomes-focused and agile rural proofing approaches, and accurate, up-to-date data and evidence, including to inform appropriate monitoring and evaluationfor ongoing learning and innovation
• deliver cohesively across rural community policy programmes
• maximise the benefits of cross-government policy for Scotland’s rural communities, particularly in relation to community empowerment, the third sector, place-based regeneration, and the reform of local governance arrangements and decision-making
• ensure that the voices, lived experiences, and needs of rural people are valued, listened to and acted upon in policy making

We present two ‘levels’ of recommendations, both of which are firmly grounded in the evidence gathered.

The first set of recommendations focuses on the delivery of Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action and Community Led Local Development. These delivery recommendations work across some of the elements of the Theory of Changes produced at stage 1 of the project (inputs → outputs → short/medium term outcomes)^[9].

The second recommendation set provides strategic recommendations which intervene across the entire causal chain (inputs → outputs → outcomes → impacts) set out in the Theories of Change. Some of the recommendations presented here go beyond being strategic and would likely generate transformative change. These are presented here as options and are intended to inspire thinking and new ideas about the future support system for Scotland’s rural communities.

To support implementation, and where appropriate, we have identified the organisations best placed to deliver on the recommendations, including Scottish Government (including Scottish Rural Network), Scottish Rural Action, local authorities, and the wide range of organisations involved in Community Led Local Development delivery, including third sector interfaces, Coordinators and Local Action Groups.

Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action and Community Led Local Development operate across different scales, connecting local projects, local initiatives and Local Action Groups with advocacy and policy making at all levels. In doing so, they deliver across Scottish Government priorities (including rural policy, place-based regeneration, addressing child poverty and Community Wealth Building), and externally to United Kingdom and international policy goals. Recommendations have been provided on improving policy coherence in varying ways to reinforce shared goals and address implementation gaps. These recommendations include those specific to rural communities policy, and also across Scottish Government, and with mind to temporal and external coherence^[10].

While considering policy coherence we have sought to ground the recommendations in practical implementation considerations. We note that policy coherence is complex and difficult to achieve in practice, and that there are a number of real-world constraints on policy making and implementation, not least decreasing public funds. Acknowledging the inherent trade-offs in policy making and implementation, and the collaborative ethos of the community initiatives in the review, we have proposed forums and institutions for negotiation and deliberation on policy change in which communities are centrally involved.

The Scottish Government’s fiscal position was highlighted in the strategic interviews, with individuals specifically acknowledging competing demands for tightened resources. Given that, it is important for this review to demonstrate the unique selling point of Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action and Community Led Local Development and to provide suggestions for how to build on their strengths. However, it was outwith the scope of this review to cost the recommendations, nor did the research team develop recommendations based on a financial directive for a reduction or expansion in the scope of the elements in the review. Rather, the focus has been on providing recommendations for future focus, role, and delivery. Mindful of fiscal pressures and financial realities, we have sought to provide recommendation options which could be implemented in varying ways in varying circumstances with varying levels of cost. A number of recommendations are presented to improve policy coherence which should generally have cost saving effects.

It should also be noted that the evidence collected highlights that all three elements under review have stretched resources and yet are delivering a wide range of important and positive impacts for Scotland’s rural communities; as such it would not be straightforward to increase ‘the ask’ of Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action or Community Led Local Development without changes to financing or altering their remit.

We have also, and importantly, recommended enhanced collaborations, public forums for deliberation, and improved transparency and accountability, all of which should support policy creation and implementation in circumstances which are constantly evolving in response to a range of local, regional, national and international issues and trends. Partly in recognition of this ongoing change, the recommendations should not be read as set which have to be adopted as a group, but rather as a set of proposals from which to choose.