Community Planning is "… a process ... whereby public services in the area of the local authority are planned and provided after consultation and (on-going) co-operation … among all public bodies ... and with community bodies…". Quote from the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 ( The Act).
Community Planning aims
- Making sure people and communities are genuinely engaged in the decisions made on public services which affect them; allied to
- A commitment from organisations to work together, not apart, in providing better public services.
There are two further key principles in addition to the two main aims outlined above:
- Community Planning as the key over-arching partnership framework helping to co-ordinate other initiatives and partnerships and where necessary acting to rationalise and simplify a cluttered landscape.
- The ability of Community Planning to improve the connection between national priorities and those at regional, local and neighbourhood levels.
Local Government in Scotland Act 2003
Although Community Planning is not a new concept, it was given a statutory basis in The Act, which places duties on:
- Local authorities - to initiate, facilitate and maintain Community Planning;
- Core partners (Enterprise Networks, National Health Service, Police, Fire and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport - Regional Transport Partnerships from April 2006) to participate in Community Planning; and
- Ministers to promote and encourage Community Planning (including Communities Scotland's participation in Community Planning at local level).
Community Planning in practice
The Act is not prescriptive about how Community Planning should be carried out; recognising that what is appropriate will depend on local circumstances. Community Planning Partnerships ( CPP)are operating in all 32 local authority areas, with a range of partners. In addition to those with a duty to participate, agencies and others such as Jobcentre Plus, Scottish Natural Heritage, Further and Higher Education institutions, business representatives, Social Inclusion Partnerships and the voluntary sector are involved in a number of partnerships.
Community Planning Network
Taking up the main challenges in the Community Planning Implementation Group ( CPIG) Report, the Community Planning Network was established in June 2005 to pursue these. It is made up of one representative from each CPP, with joint administrative support from the Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( COSLA). Members have now agreed the remit of the Network, which meets around three times per year:
- to discuss shared problems and work to address these;
- to act to influence leaders and policy makers; and
- to provide opportunities for mutual support, information exchange and to build on personal networks.
Further information
- Further information, including historical papers for the Community Planning Task Force and CPIG can be found on Scotland's Community Planning Website which acts as a source of up-to-date information on Community Planning, both at a national and local level.
- The Community Planning Statutory Guidance, which gives advice about what is intended by duties e.g. reporting, enforcement, engagement, equal opportunities etc:
- National Framework: National Priorities
- Partnership Models and Structures
- Involving the Private Sector
- Effective Partnership Working
- Effective Community engagement
- Building Organisational Capacity
- The Role Of Elected and Board Members
- Information Sharing
- Performance Monitoring and Management
- Engaging Children and Young People in Community Planning
For further information on Community Planning, please contact:
Community Planning Team
Scottish Executive
Area 3-H
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
Telephone 0131 244 0420
Fax 0131 244 7058
e-mail: community.planning@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
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