Local Governance
Devolution of decision making to communities has to be a core element of creating more coordinated and locally connected systems of governance.
What is Local Governance?
Local Governance is about having greater control over the things that should sit closest to our communities and is in most daily interactions across culture, housing, transport, education, health, environment, planning, food etc. The community sector in Scotland has a vital role to play in influencing how we realise a new system of local democracy.
The Local Governance Review was launched in 2017 to enable Scotland’s diverse communities have in say in how they would like more control and influence over decisions that affect them most. As part of Democracy Matters 2, SCA hosted a Local Governance and Democracy workshop with delegates of the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament and supported our member networks to participate in the ‘deep dive’ sessions happening across the country. Across the third and public sector in Scotland communities’ views were gathered and submitted to inform the development of local governance.
We are calling for:
1.
A modern and responsive system of local democracy built to meet today’s needs
2.
Local democratic structures to recognise, and include the lived experience and expertise in our communities
3.
New forms of local democracy to be consolidated through legislation
Why is it one of our priorities?
Democracy Matters phase 1 and 2 consultation and engagement exercises demonstrated a clear appetite for a form of modern democracy in Scotland which would enable communities to have far greater control over the future of the places they live. When power of decision making is brought closer to communities, community wealth can be built from the bottom up and support the transition to a wellbeing economy.
What is currently happening?
We are currently working with members to develop a community led blueprint for local democracy.
The Scottish Government Programme for Government 2026-31 commits ‘Community empowerment and community wealth building will remain at the heart of a new model of governance. This will include implementing our Democracy Matters work to give communities the means to articulate their priorities, and the tools they need to build community assets and services.’
Further Reading
Democracy Matters: route map to reform – gov.scot