Hansard

It has been a long day and a tiring day but, I hope, a very worthwhile one. For those of us who believe whole-heartedly in devolution and in the principles of subsidiarity and sharing power, the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill is a very significant step indeed. I add my voice to those of the many members this evening who have thanked all the contributors who helped us reach this point.

To my mind, the most important issue that was flagged up in evidence to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee from the outset, and which was unanimously reflected in the committee’s deliberations, was the argument that the bill should not only seek to increase participation from the community in decision making but, perhaps more important, it should redistribute influence on decision making more equally across diverse communities. That argument was put most forcefully by contributors from the voluntary sector, including Oxfam, the Poverty Alliance, Barnardo’s and many more such organisations, and I thank each of them for their persuasive input into this piece of legislation.

The worry was expressed that the passing of the bill would simply cede more power to those who are already accustomed to participating in local decision making. One of the most important amendments agreed to, therefore, was on legislative recognition that, when the national outcomes framework is being laid down, socioeconomic levels within individual communities will be taken into account.

The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights—CRER—is one of the many aforementioned organisations that welcomed the bill’s ambition to reduce inequalities of outcome arising from socioeconomic disadvantage. However, it felt strongly that there should also be a focus on reducing inequalities of outcome that arise from race discrimination. I did not wish to introduce new material at stage 3, particularly on such a consensual bill—I am sure that everyone is relieved to hear that there was not an extra amendment this afternoon—so I did not lodge that amendment.

However, I would welcome, even at this late stage, any reassurance that the minister can offer in winding up that he recognises that black and minority ethnic communities may not be in the best position to take advantage of the provisions in the bill and that the Scottish Government will take steps to address those barriers to community participation that are created by prejudice and discrimination.

I will pick out just a couple of the many important subjects in the bill that were covered today. Empowering communities means, in essence, that we are giving citizens the opportunity to influence decisions that matter to them. That is why we were happy to back the football supporters’ right-to-buy amendment, proposed by Alison Johnstone. We are all very aware of the parlous state of many Scottish football clubs and of the less than altruistic intentions of some owners. Sports clubs in general play a crucial role in communities all over Scotland. Allowing those who care the most about the clubs to make decisions on the clubs’ future will only further enrich that important aspect of society. We were particularly pleased to see those amendments agreed to without division at stage 2. Having now conceded that the minister would prefer to consult further and bring back those proposals by regulation or subordinate legislation, I hope that the ministers will appreciate our on-going anxiety that the Government fulfils that commitment in the shortest timescale possible.

I turn to the subject of allotments—Rab McNeil notwithstanding. Despite the minister’s good intentions, there was a danger at one point that, instead of improving prospects for Scotland’s many allotment holders and giving them some sort of statutory protection, we would vote down the entire section. It is to the credit of the minister, of the committee and, in particular, of the members of the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society that the bill has now been amended to address the real demand for access to small plots of land that clearly exists across Scotland.

As with many aspects of the bill, the real test now lies ahead, when we put the law into practice. Allotments do not just offer an opportunity for those who wish to enjoy the benefits of gardening or working outdoors. They contribute to public policy on food, social justice, health and wellbeing, reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the natural environment. For example, will the bill deliver more allotments, with fewer people waiting and more people with a plot of their own? That is when we will really see the extent to which we have empowered our communities.

I have one final point. This has been a collaborative and consensual process, as many members have remarked in their closing speeches, and I believe that the bill is all the better for that. I thank the ministers for their role in such a co-operative and constructive operation, but I particularly want to thank the members of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee. It is interesting that there is no Government majority on the committee and the result has not been opportunism or oppositional politics from the non-governmental majority, but mature, respectful and rational discussion. All members have sought to reach agreement rather than force their views on others. For those who recollect Parliament before 2011, it was a reminder of how we used to achieve a balance between the power of the Executive and the legislature.

There have been occasional disappointments. We did not pass the European Charter of Local Self-Government, despite the opportunity that it offered to display our commitment to subsidiarity. I think that many of us welcomed the reminder during the discussion around that that the concordat is now dead and buried. It was slightly worrying that, in a choice between the council tax freeze and subsidiarity, the freeze seems to have won. I echo the point that was raised by my colleague Alex Rowley that, if we are going to take a consensual approach, local government finance offers an opportunity to us all.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill is a very consensual, well-intentioned and empowering bill. It is now up to all of us to put those powers into action—let us practise the devolution that we preach.