Legislation
The Local Government in Scotland Act, 2003 has placed a duty on local authorities across Scotland to initiate, maintain and facilitate Community Planning in their area and have responsibility to determine the means of consultation and co-operation. They are also required to invite and encourage all other public bodies in their area, and appropriate community bodies, to participate in Community Planning, tailored to suit the circumstances of each Community Planning Partnership.
NHS Boards, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Joint Police Boards and Chief Constables and Joint Fire Boards have a duty to participate
On 14th November 2007, the Scottish government published the ‘Concordat’, which set out the terms of a new relationship between the Scottish Government and local government, based on ‘mutual respect and partnership’. It combines support for the delivery of a framework of Strategic Objectives and Key National Outcomes across the whole of Scotland, with a commitment to working with Community Planning Partnerships to develop ‘Single Outcome Agreements’ which are based on local needs, local circumstances and local priorities.
The following are the key areas from the Concordat:- Each local authority were required to reach a Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) with the Scottish Government, based on the national outcomes and, under a common framework, local outcomes to take account of local priorities;
- A considerable number of ring-fenced specific grants have been rolled up and transferred into the local government settlement;
- Arrangements for reporting performance have been streamlined and simplified, with only one report required from Community Planning Partnerships each year showing progress in delivering the Single Outcome Agreement;
- Local authorities are able to retain – for the first time - all their efficiency savings to re-deploy against ongoing pressures;
- COSLA and the Scottish Government have put in place arrangements to monitor the new partnership and, as part of this, to assess how the new arrangements are working, how each side is fulfilling the commitments made, and how any significant new pressures associated with the development of government policy might best be accommodated.
Links to Legislations & Guidance
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003
Concordat Between the Scottish Government & Local Authorities, 2007
Final Report of the Community Planning Task Force, 2003