Policy Talk

Through our supporters LPL is in touch with policy development as it relates to community empowerment in Scotland and the UK. This section is an archive of previous items - its format is a simple list arranged by date of posting.



November 2008

LPL Briefings goes out to 960 supporters. (5th Nov 2008)
Since our launch in 2007, a steady stream of groups (447) and individuals (513) have registered as LPL campaign supporters: list on LPL website. In addition 1300 MSPs and local Councillors also receive the Briefings. In January, Angus Hardie will lead LPL to the next level. He will be replaced at DTA Scotland by Ian Cooke. Here's a short bio on Ian.

Housing Investment Reform and Wider Action (5th Nov 2008)
No local agencies have as much potential for the real empowerment of communities as locally owned housing associations. But David Stewart of SFHA warns that Scottish Government’s proposed squeeze on ‘new build’ funding through the Investment Reform Project will limit HA`s capacity for Wider Action initiatives.

Civil Servant Rebutts Senscot Claim (5th Nov 2008)
A recent edition of the Senscot Bulletin claimed that Scottish Government has delegated the community empowerment agenda to COSLA – ‘‘as if it’s a subset of local government policy’’. This has been challenged by Alasdair McKinlay from the Government`s Housing and Regeneration Division. It would be good to hear more from them about the progress of community empowerment.

Upsurge of interest in Social Capital (5th Nov 2008)
Search engines around the world are reporting an upsurge in the number of hits on the term ‘social capital’. It is now the internationally accepted concept for expressing social benefit – though Scottish Government is a bit off the pace. Colin Campbell of Assist offers six short definitions.

12 empowerment strategies compared (5th Nov 2008)
The Scottish Government`s Community Empowerment Action Plan will be published early next year (jointly with COSLA). It will be informed by a comparative study of 12 empowerment strategies presently operating around Scotland. It would be interesting to know how/why these communities were selected. See list

October 2008

A ready made People’s Bank (22nd Oct 2008)
Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham has called upon the Government to create a People’s Bank – based on the Post Office and its network of 14,5000 branches – to provide the public service which the banking system has failed to deliver. But does the Government realise that the game has changed?

Community Energy goes national (22nd Oct 2008)
The Highland and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC) has extended its remit to cover all Scotland – as Community Energy Scotland (CES). A team of specialist development officers is available to support communities which aspire to achieve sustainable income through the generation of renewable energy,

What legal structure should we adopt? (22nd Oct 2008)
Whether it’s the local shop; a new wind farm, or any other community owned enterprise – a new book argues that the most effective structure to adopt is that of an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS). This model is enjoying a new wave of popularity because it blends the roles of investor, member, customer and volunteer.

Is Scottish Government committed to Community Empowerment? (22nd Oct 2008)
On behalf of LPL, Angus Hardie told New Start magazine last week that “We need to get some indications, both from local and national Government that there is real enthusiasm for the community empowerment agenda. There is still a big question mark over how much genuine commitment there is.”

The Core Economy and Co-Production (22nd Oct 2008)
Edgar Cahn is the champion of two powerful ideas for beneficial social change. The Core Economy is the social infrastructure on which our money economy depends. Co-production is the co-delivery of services by users. Andrew Simms, Policy Director of the New Economics Foundation, explains his enthusiasm.

The Community Allowance (8th Oct 2008)
LPL is supporting the campaign for a `community allowance` which is being co-ordinated by the CREATE consortium. The key proposal is that benefit claimants who do community work should be allowed to earn up to £4,305 without reduction of benefit. Here’s a briefing – if you agree, log on and show your support

The sad loss of our wee shops (8th Oct 2008)
In 1945, there were half a million independent retailers in the UK – now there are only 30,000 – more close every week, draining the life from our communities. John Bird (Big Issue Founder) and his daughter, Diana, have done something about it in the area where they live. Article in The Independent tell us more

Community Empowerment - updates on progress needed (8th Oct 2008)
Earlier this year Scottish Government and COSLA made a joint statement committing them both to take forward this crucial agenda. Prior to this a lot of people on the ground had contributed to a consultation exercise to help shape what eventually happens. Although we know an Action Plan is being prepared, it is discouraging that there is no mention of this work on either the COSLA or Scottish Government websites. The UK Govt seems more explicit about its commitment

Dormant Bank Accounts (8th Oct 2008)
Scotland’s share of the dormant bank accounts windfall is estimated to be around £40m – which sometime in 2009 will be distributed by our Lottery. What our Government has yet to decide is where the money should go – the results of the recent consultation are still being analysed. Here’s LPL`s position

Social Capital and the Core Economy (8th Oct 2008)
The concept of `social capital` is increasingly understood – and the term is increasingly used to describe the health or otherwise of our communities. It has strong similarities to the concept of the `Core Economy` advance by American Professor, Edgar Cahn

September 2008

Global financial crisis could be opportunity for community sector (24th Sep 2008)
Barry Quirk, the chief executive of Lewisham Council and leader of the government-commissioned review of asset transfers from local authorities to community-led groups, has indicated that the downturn in the commercial property market could a blessing in disguise for communities

Government announces establishment of asset transfer unit (24th Sep 2008)
Communities and local councils in England will benefit from a new service offering support and advice on asset transfer. £1.3 million has been committed over three years to establish the Asset Transfer Unit which will be led by the Development Trusts Association with support from the Local Government Association and the national federation Community Matters

Decisions on spending to be made at community level (24th Sep 2008)
New steps were announced this week by Communities Minister Hazel Blears as part of a nationwide drive to put more power into the hands of local people. Initially a pilot with the aim of rolling it out to all communities in England by 2012, local people are to be given new powers over how local budgets are spent

Community Empowerment Research (24th Sep 2008)
Scottish Government is commissioning research into existing models of community empowerment in Scotland. The research will select 12 case studies from across the country, looking to showcase the experiences of different communities, the challenges they have faced and the successes they have achieved

US model of empowerment – a different emphasis (24th Sep 2008)
An approach to tackle problems in housing supply being pursued in parts of the US is based on the premise that tenant empowerment is an essential building block for a sustainable community. However an aspect of this approach – tenant screening – creates both winners and losers. A recent article in the Guardian argues that while we need to cherish the legacy of our welfare state, there are aspects of the American system that we could learn from

Previous articles here