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Scottish Executive Guidance for Community Learning and Development
PART TWO: THE ROLE OF CLD IN COMMUNITY PLANNING
We want to increase opportunities for individuals and communities who are excluded, improve public services where it will make most difference, and create a more socially just Scotland. Through community planning, we aim to make sure that agencies work with communities to improve their wellbeing. Through community learning and development, we aim to make sure that communities can be full partners in this. Extract from a statement prepared by the Scottish Executive/COSLA working group (see Annex 1 for the full statement). |
26 Community planning aims to ensure that public, private and voluntary agencies work together more effectively to provide good quality public services and that communities affected by their decisions and using their services are part of this process. CLD has an essential role in ensuring that individuals and communities - particularly those facing discrimination and disadvantage - gain the confidence and skills to participate in community planning and influence decisions that affect their lives.
27 This guidance is intended to complement guidance on community planning 11 and, in particular, the requirements for Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to increase the involvement of communities in shaping strategic planning and service delivery. This includes the requirement under section 15 of the Local Government in Scotland Act that CPPs must involve communities in the planning process. Statutory guidance makes it clear that this must include consultation, co-operation and participation.
28 The introduction of community planning and stronger requirements to support community engagement means that we must be sure that CPPs have sufficient skills and abilities in relation to community learning and development. We must build on existing good practice to ensure that the quality of community engagement offered by all CPPs is 'fit for purpose'.
29 In this new environment CPPs need to:
- draw on the expertise of CLD practitioners;
- use a variety of methods to support community engagement in planning and decision-making;
- engage a wide range of members of the community concerned and not just those who are already active;
- learn from people's experience of being engaged; and
- avoid consulting people too much.
The experience from community learning strategies and plans shows that CPPs need to deal with these issues consistently to avoid "consultation fatigue". They also need to ensure that they have the skills and abilities to undertake effective community learning and development work.
30 CLD practitioners therefore have a key role in ensuring that communities are fully engaged in the community planning process. The importance of CLD approaches is highlighted in the statutory guidance on community planning, and in the accompanying advice note on community engagement, which supports the implementation of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 12.
31 Community Planning Partnerships have enormous experience on which to build given the pilot work carried out since 1999 on the development of Community Learning Strategies and Plans. Skilled CLD practitioners can also contribute their expertise to the task of enabling CPPs to consult the public, and help them take part in the planning and delivery of services. This is particularly important for people who are less well organised and confident. This consultation and engagement should cover not just issues around the planning and provision of CLD services, but also the wider remit of community planning partners.
32 CPPs have a key role to play in community regeneration. This will be enhanced as they begin to take on the responsibilities of Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs). In order for SIP structures and resources to be integrated into the community planning framework, CPPs must demonstrate that they have effective arrangements in place for community engagement or that significant and tangible progress is being made in this area. In particular, CPPs must demonstrate that they have engaged, or propose to engage "difficult to reach" groups and a wide variety of people. Guidance on the integration of SIPs and Community Planning Partnerships highlights the important role of community learning and development approaches in achieving the integration criteria 13.
33 CPPs should also note that the Scottish Community Development Centre, on behalf of Communities Scotland, is developing standards for community engagement. Draft standards will be prepared by December 2003 and tested in pilots over the period to April 2005, As these develop, CPPs are expected to use these standards as an element of good practice.
Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire - supporting communities to influence community planning Voluntary Action (VA) is the Council for Voluntary Service in East Renfrewshire and serves on the East Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership. It does not act as a representative for the whole community and voluntary sector, but rather is an agent for information, networking, monitoring and research which enables and supports communities to organise and to influence community planning. VA's role has developed in two main ways. Firstly, it has engaged in a dialogue about the future development of community involvement in East Renfrewshire, including promoting discussion on community involvement in monitoring and evaluation of the Community Plan. Secondly, VA has directly built capacity for, and raised awareness of, community planning amongst community and voluntary groups, largely from within its own resources and has organised or contributed to several events. Local Community Councils invited VA to survey their interest in and preparedness for community planning and later to help them create a network. The Scottish Executive's Empowering Communities funds for SIPs are administered locally by community representatives. VA has been commissioned to provide needs assessment and training on the transition to community planning for SIP area groups and then for the whole sector. |
Aberdeen City - Involving citizens in community planning Preparations for an Aberdeen Community Plan began with an exercise to 'Imagine Aberdeen' in the year 2010 which involved the public through Open Days, workshops and questionnaires. The themes were developed by a Core Group, which included representatives from the community. The first Community Plan, 'aberdeen futures', proposed the establishment of a new decision making alliance involving the public, voluntary and community sectors, and the development of a Civic Forum. Proposals for the Civic Forum were drawn up by a Steering Group of Council members and community representatives. Support to the Forum is given primarily by specially funded staff in the Community Development section of the Council's Chief Executive's Department. The Forum has been constituted with representatives of each area of the city and of seven established communities of interest (e.g. Senior Citizens' Forum, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Forum). Two seats were created for Gypsy Travellers, at their request. Four Forum members have been elected as representatives on the city Alliance. The Forum is also represented on each Alliance subgroup. Around 100 of 129 places on the Forum have been filled so far, and representation from "harder to reach" sections is strong, though work continues. A survey of Forum members was used to establish training and support needs and initial topics for discussion. Training in "Speaking Up in Meetings", and the use of computers is already being offered. Aberdeen futures now has responsibility for developing the existing 'Strengthening Local Democracy' strategy. This works through three main structures: the Forum, Neighbourhood Community Action Plans and Plans for Communities of Interest. Participation guidelines are being developed to set standards for good practice. The strategy promises support to communities especially from Community Learning and Development staff, but also from Community Police, Tenant Participation Officers, Community Development Officers, Public Health Co-ordinators and others. |
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