Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Community Planning Inquiry: Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Community Empowerment Act 2015
Background
The Committee continued its scrutiny of the impact of the Community Empowerment Act 2015 (the ‘Act’) with this inquiry into Part 2 of the Act, that covers Community Planning.
Community Planning aims to improve how organisations such as local government, health boards, and the police work together with other partners to improve local outcomes in an area.
Community Planning Partnerships (‘CPPs’) exist in every local authority to identify priorities and to share resources to deliver services for people.
Part 2 of the Community Empowerment Act (2015) changed how community planning is delivered by CPPs. They have to develop Local Outcomes Improvement Plans and targeted ‘locality plans’ for smaller areas which need more support. Partners also have to work with communities to involve them in community planning.
Read Part 2 of the Community Empowerment Act (2015)
This inquiry looked at the impact of the Act on community planning and how CPPs respond to significant events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis.
Report
The Committee published its report on Community Planning on the 22 June 2023. You can read the report here.
The Scottish Government’s response to the Committee’s report is available below under ‘Correspondence’
Oral Evidence
Community Planning involved a wide range of partner organisations and communities. Reflecting this, the Committee held a number of evidence sessions where it hears from many different stakeholders.
Evidence session on 28 February 2023
Evidence session on 7 March 2023
Evidence session on 14 March 2023
Evidence session on 21 March 2023
Evidence session on 25 April 2023
Your views
We asked organisations directly involved in Community Planning Partnerships as well as communities and individuals about the impact the Partnerships have had.
A call for views was aimed at members of Community Planning Partnerships (organisations or individuals) and asked a number of detailed questions about how the partnerships operate.
A second survey was shorter and was aimed at other organisations or individuals who have an interest in community planning.
See the responses
Read the summary of the call for views received (161KB, pdf) posted 02 March 2023
Read the summary of the survey responses received
Engagement event
On 30 January Committee members joined with 37 representatives from community and third sector organisations to hear about their experiences of community planning. Attendees went into four different breakout groups which focused on the rural and islands perspective, health organisations, TSIs (third sector interfaces) and other members-based organisations, and community groups. This summary records the views expressed during the discussions that took place and will be taken into account by the Committee as it progresses the inquiry.
You can read the summary here.