In this section we invite views on a legislative proposal for the general advancement of the CWB approach through an ambitious new CWB duty.
Proposal: A duty to advance CWB
The aim of the duty is to extend and deepen the implementation of CWB across Scotland, ensuring universal coverage and shared principles whilst allowing for local, regional and organisational flexibility.
We would like respondents views on three options for a CWB duty:
Option A) a duty requiring Scottish Ministers and prescribed public sector bodies to embed the CWB model of economic development into their corporate plans and wider strategies
Option B) a duty requiring those public sector bodies statutorily obliged to be involved in community planning to produce a collective CWB place-based strategy and action plan which contains specific actions across the five CWB pillars to advance the CWB model of economic development in their local authority area
- This requirement could be taken forward at a regional level if neighbouring local authorities and their community planning partners have a preference for that approach
Option C) a combined option – featuring a union of both options set out above
All of the options create different opportunities for ensuring the involvement of local communities. For Option B and Option C, there could be a statutory requirement to include business, third sector and communities in the development of a strategy and action plan.
Q1.a) We are proposing a duty to advance Community Wealth Building, which form do you think this duty should take:
- Option A
- Option B
- Option C
- Other
- No Duty
Please provide a reason for your answer.
It is considered that it would be less onerous for public sector organisations if Option B was agreed. We also believe that this provides an opportunity to tie any new provisions to a strengthening of the Place Principle, the Town Centre First Principle and place-based approaches, that can consider all aspects of a place when considering an intervention and thereby support Community Wealth Building ambitions.
The Place Principle supports collaborative place-based action and the Place Standard is a commonly-used tool to help people think about the quality of their place and where action might be required. If the Place Principle is to be effective there is a need to ‘give it teeth’ and operationalise its work so it influences policy, practice and investment on the ground. RTPI Scotland believes that there is a need for a stronger framework and the introduction of measures to ensure that public authorities publicly report on how they have embedded the Place Principle in their approaches and how they have applied it in their decision making, including any reasoning. This should also apply to the Town Centre First Principle, as there needs to be greater transparency on how it these principles are considered in the decision making process. Appropriate enforcement may be required if necessary and public funding opportunities could be offered with a stipulation that there is adherence to the Place Principle and, where relevant, the Town Centre First Principle.
This can also help address many areas that would support the delivery a 20 minute neighbourhood, which will also be a key means of embedding CWB approaches such as:
• Aligning Local Place Plans, Local Outcome Improvement Plans, Locality Plans and LDPs to ensure reciprocity
• Supporting the Infrastructure First Principle, Reuse First Principle and Town Centre First Principle.
• Help overcome fragmented property ownership within town and city centres including a more pro-active approach to land assembly.
• Develop proposals for Compulsory Sale Orders to make use of derelict and vacant land and buildings and deliver active travel networks.
• Support Town Centre Actions Plans.
• Co-coordinating investment across stakeholders towards place-based interventions
Q1.b) One way Scottish Government could support the implementation of the proposed Community Wealth Building duty is to provide statutory or non-statutory guidance. Would this be helpful to partners in meeting the proposed duty?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer.
See answer to question 1a.
Q2.a) Are there other non-legislative measures that you believe are required to accelerate the implementation of the Community Wealth Building approach in Scotland?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer:
Please see answer to question 1a above discussing the need to strengthen the Place Principle, the Town Centre First Principle and place-based approaches.
Community Wealth Building would benefit from a stronger recognition of the role that proactive planning and place-leadership can have through the enhanced corporate influence of planning. There is an opportunity to achieve this through the Chief Planning Officer role, provisions for which are set out in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. Scottish Government is due to publish guidance on what constitutes appropriate qualifications and experience for the role of chief planning officer and this could ensure that there is a professional with a voice at the corporate levels of local authorities to promote and embed place based approaches, including CWB.
Q2.b) Are there specific actions required to advance delivery of the items contained within the Shared Policy Programme outlined on page 11?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer:
N/A
Q3. Are there ways in which the law could be changed to advance the spending pillar of Community Wealth Building?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer :
N/A
Q4. Employment law is reserved to the UK Parliament. Are there other devolved areas where the law could be changed to advance the
workforce pillar of Community Wealth Building?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer :
N/A
Q5. Are there ways in which the law could be changed which are not already covered in the proposals for the Land Reform Bill to advance the
land and property pillar of Community Wealth Building?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer :
As already stated we believe there is great benefit in tying any new provisions to a strengthening of the Place Principle, the Town Centre First Principle and place-based approaches, that can consider all aspects of a place when considering an intervention and thereby support Community Wealth Building ambitions.
The Place Principle supports collaborative place-based action and the Place Standard is a commonly-used tool to help people think about the quality of their place and where action might be required. If the Place Principle is to be effective there is a need to ‘give it teeth’ and operationalise its work so it influences policy, practice and investment on the ground. RTPI Scotland believes that there is a need for a stronger framework and the introduction of measures to ensure that public authorities publicly report on how they have embedded the Place Principle in their approaches and how they have applied it in their decision making, including any reasoning. This should also apply to the Town Centre First Principle, as there needs to be greater transparency on how it these principles are considered in the decision making process. Appropriate enforcement may be required if necessary and public funding opportunities could be offered with a stipulation that there is adherence to the Place Principle and, where relevant, the Town Centre First Principle.
This can also help address many areas that would support the delivery a 20 minute neighbourhood, which will lao be a key means of embedding CWB approaches such as:
• Aligning Local Place Plans, Local Outcome Improvement Plans, Locality Plans and LDPs to ensure reciprocity
• Supporting the Infrastructure First Principle, Reuse First Principle and Town Centre First Principle.
• Help overcome fragmented property ownership within town and city centres including a more pro-active approach to land assembly.
• Develop proposals for Compulsory Sale Orders to make use of derelict and vacant land and buildings and deliver active travel networks.
• Support Town Centre Actions Plans.
• Co-coordinating investment across stakeholders towards place-based interventions
As also stated earlier we are of the view that Community Wealth Building would benefit from a stronger recognition of the role that proactive planning and place-leadership can have through the enhanced corporate influence of planning. There is an opportunity to achieve this through the Chief Planning Officer role, provisions for which are set out in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. Scottish Government is due to publish guidance on what constitutes appropriate qualifications and experience for the role of chief planning officer and this could ensure that there is a professional with a voice at the corporate levels of local authorities to promote and embed place based approaches, including CWB.
Local Place Plans (LPPs) were introduced as a provision in the 2019 Planning (Scotland) Act. They are an exciting new type of plan providing opportunities for communities to develop proposals and ideas for the development of where they live. LPPs can help community planning and land-use planning achieve better outcomes for communities and could have an important role ot play in engaging communities in developing CWB approaches. RTPI Scotland believe there is a clear opportunity to integrate emerging Local Place Plans with the aspirations of 20 minute neighbourhoods and CWB. Local Place Plans and 20 minute neighbourhoods are both concerned with making everyday neighbourhoods and environments better places to live, work and play. They can help planners to communicate strategic overarching considerations and allow communities plan priorities for interventions, conveying detailed local understanding. A lot of these strategic considerations could be covered by many of the fundamental aspirations of CWB, 20 minute neighbourhoods, tailored to the specific circumstance and context of localities. Planners can in turn bring the vital links to other departments, agendas and organisations that help to navigate the system and turn community aspirations into reality. However, for LPPs to succeed there needs to be funding set aside to support communities to develop them. There is currently no designated funding in place to support them to do this, although their success may well depend on this. It has been estimated that each LPP could cost between £10,000 - £30,000 each . There is also a need to secure on-going funding for maintenance of any interventions identified. Full consideration also needs made as to how a diverse range of ages can be involved and how both geographic communities and communities of interest be engaged in the LPP preparation process.
Q6. Are there ways in which the law could be changed to advance the inclusive ownership pillar of Community Wealth Building?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer:
N/A
Q7. Are there ways in which the law could be changed to advance the finance pillar of Community Wealth Building?
- Yes
- No
- Don’t Know
Please provide a reason for your answer:
N/A
