Tag Archives: Community engagement

Coomunity empowerment bill published

Headlines from the press-release (link below)

A new law will reform existing community right to buy and include measures to make it simpler for communities to take over public sector land and buildings.

The existing community right to buy will be streamlined and extended to cover all parts of Scotland, as part of plans to have one million acres into community ownership by 2020.

There is provision for communities to take over public sector land and buildings where they can show they can deliver greater public benefit with those assets.

Rules on Scotland’s local authority allotment sites will also be simplified strengthening the duty on councils to provide sites triggered by actual demand. The Bill will also protect allotment sites from closure.

The Local Government Minister also confirmed an increase in funding from the People and Communities Fund by £1.5 million to £9.4 million per year in 2015-16.

 

The following was sent by Scott Sayers | Community Empowerment Unit | 0131 244 0382

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was published today and can be found on the Parliament’s website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/77926.aspx. You will also find the accompanying documents there; the Policy Memorandum, Explanatory Notes and Delegated Powers Memorandum:

The Analysis Report and Social Research findings on the responses to the second consultation have been published today and can be found via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/engage. This link also directs you to all historical documents relating to the Bill.

Here is a link to today’s Scottish Government news release relating to the Bill: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Increased-powers-for-Scotland-s-communities-d88.aspx

The Scottish Community Development Centre has launched a new website for communities, funded by the Scottish Government, today.  The website aims to puts communities in the spotlight by connecting people and sharing ideas: http://www.communityscot.org.uk/

Influencing the next South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan (SDP2) – Your Say

There is one week left to complete our survey which will help inform the next Strategic Development Plan for Edinburgh and South East Scotland. The survey closes at 5pm on Friday 30 May 2014.

If you wish to have your say, the short survey is available to complete on the SESplan Consultation Portal (http://sesplan-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/mir_ee/influence_the_plan).

Housing Need and Demand Assessment

In a few weeks time, we will be seeking comments on a draft Housing Need and Demand Assessment. This document sets out future estimates of the numbers of households we need to plan for up to 2038. This key document will inform the content of the Main Issues Report for the Strategic Development Plan to be produced later this year. Therefore we want to hear your opinion on it. We will send a further email when it is available for comment.

Housing Land Supplementary Guidance

Following the consultation in late 2013, the SESplan Housing Land Supplementary Guidance has been submitted to Scottish Ministers. They have 28 days to consider the documents. Unless instructed otherwise, at the end of the 28 days the SESplan member authorities will formally adopt the Supplementary Guidance. The Supplementary Guidance sets out how the housing requirements up to 2024 for each of the SESplan local authorities. This will inform each authorities Local Development Plan. Details are available at http://www.sesplan.gov.uk/strategic-development-plan/housing-land-supplementary-guidance.

If you have any queries, please contact the SESplan team at 0131 524 5165 or email us at contactus@sesplan.gov.uk.

To keep up to date follow SESplan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SESplan

Vote for a Feeling Safe Neighbourhood Priority

Every three months, everyone who lives, works, studies or volunteers in Leith can help elect up to four Feeling Safe Neighbourhood Priorities.

Previously the only way people could vote was in person at Neighbourhood Partnership (NP) quarterly meetings.

In 2014, people can vote via the internet as well as in both of Leith’s public libraries. This is to increase the number of people participating in the Feeling Safe Community Forum, without being required to attend public meeting.

Voting is quick & easy, taking only a few minutes to do!

Full voting results will be announced at the next NP public meeting, to be held on Tuesday 3rd June 2014 and thereafter published more widely, including on the NP website.

Vote in person at McDonald Road Library or Ferry Road Library from 12 noon on Monday 19th May 2014 until 12 noon on Friday 30th May 2014.

Vote online until 12 noon on Friday 30th May 2014 by following the link below.

 Vote online by clicking here

Citizen Participation Network newsletter

Some great things in the latest CPN newsletter. Here’s the headlines:

The Citizen Participation Network (CPN) was set up in 2010 by Edinburgh University’s Public Policy Network. In four years, CPN has grown from 5 to 500 members including citizens, researchers, policy makers and participation practitioners. It aims to connect research, policy and practice in the worlds of collaborative governance and participatory and deliberative democracy in Scotland and beyond.

REVIEW OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR NOISE REGIME: Call for Evidence,

What: call for evidence about antisocial noise policy
Where: via web(?)
When: 22nd May 2014
Who: 22nd May 2014
Cost: nil

Here’s the full announcement:

Please see the link to a consultation on the Scottish Government website.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/05/9660

This is a Call for Evidence to support a policy review of the noise regime under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland ) Act 2004 Part 5. The noise provisions which came into force in 2005 introduced a fixed penalty notice deterrent for domestic noise offences for any part of the day or night.

The regime is being reviewed with the objectives of ensuring that the implementing regulations and guidance remains fit for purpose.  The consultation runs till 25 August 2014.

I have also attached a flyer (PDF) which we are running in conjunction with Environmental Protection Scotland.  Places are limited and if you wish to attend please use the contact details on the flyer.

Please feel free to forward this email to others in your organisation.

Linda Story
Policy Advisor
Pollution & Strategic Delivery
Environmental Quality Division
Scottish Government
Area 1H North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
tel. 0131 244 1521
fax. 0131 244 0211 e-mail : linda.story@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

 

Did you know that Noise Action Week 2013 is taking place between 19th and 24th May? Find out more about this initiative to tackle local noise problems atwww.noiseactionweek.org.uk.