Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2015
I draw attention to my entry in the register of interests because I have had a particular interest in community empowerment for a number of years. I was reminded by the person sitting behind me that we had debated this issue in 1988 with reference to a particular community on the south side of Glasgow.
I thank all those who gave evidence to the committee, including the community groups, which told us, not only in formal meetings but in the informal meetings that we had throughout Scotland, about their expectations for community empowerment and their roles in their communities.
I challenge Cameron Buchanan’s comments on decision making: it was not always just about what the Scottish Government was doing, but about what local authorities were doing to many communities. Communities felt disempowered in terms of engagement when local authorities were making decisions. I hope that the bill will take forward rights for communities, so that they are properly consulted, engaged and truly empowered in terms of the decisions that are made in their areas.
I also thank the ministers for their willingness to accept comments that members and others made at stage 2, and in the lead up to stage 3, on what we wanted to see in the bill. In particular, I thank them for their willingness to take on board and to progress suggestions that were made.
The test of any legislation that is passed by Parliament is the impact that it has on communities throughout Scotland. There is an expectation that, once enacted, the bill will empower communities that have so far failed in their attempts to engage meaningfully in shaping the delivery of services that they themselves have identified.
One such area is the asset transfer debate—I am directly involved in community asset transfer negotiations with a local authority. When working with local authorities and other public agencies, we must ask them to consider what they mean by community asset transfers. I think that it was Rob Gibson who mentioned best value. I do not look at best value in economic terms; I look at what best value is for communities and what asset transfers can deliver in terms of economic and social impacts. Many communities have good ideas and visions for what they can deliver. Unfortunately, as Rob Gibson highlighted, many public sector agencies and local authorities see asset transfer as having only monetary value. We must shape and change the attitude that best value is about money; rather, it is about what can be delivered, how it is delivered and who is delivering it.
It is clear that many communities throughout Scotland want to engage in the asset transfer process, take forward their own projects and deliver services in those communities. However, at present, many of them are being held back by the view of local authorities that they know what is best for those areas.
The bill is about changing society. I hope that, after almost 40 years of talking about community engagement, with this legislation we will see genuine community empowerment to allow people to take forward their ideas and to engage meaningfully in shaping their future.
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