The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (“the Act”) aims to enhance community involvement in community planning by a number of means including the creation of new opportunities for influencing public service provision and decision-making.
The spirit of the Act is one of improving outcomes for communities, encouraging and promoting dialogue, tackling inequalities, and supporting the increased participation of those whose voices are less heard or who face additional barriers.
Part 3 of the Act (Participation Requests) is focused on extending and improving community participation in improving outcomes for communities. The Act enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes. Under section 22 of the Act a community participation body may make such a request to a public service authority to permit the body to participate in an outcome improvement process.
Public service authorities must then publish in a Decision Notice the decision it has taken in respect of any such request.
Support and Advice
The Comhairle is happy to discuss prospective applications with groups prior to a formal submission.
Contact
We welcome requests from community bodies to participate in decisions and processes that are aimed at improving outcomes.
Please send your request to:
Head of Law and Governance
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Sandwick Road
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2BW
United Kingdom