Communities Scotland (the Scottish Executive s housing and regeneration agency) published its annual report for 2002-03, its first full year of operation. Of the 28 targets it had been set, it said it had met or bettered 22. An investment programme of 217 million had delivered 4,759 new and improved homes, against a target of 4700. 129 million of private finance had been generated, against a target of 120 million.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03, Communities Scotland (0131 313 0044)
Links: Report (pdf) | Communities Scotland press release
Date: 2003-Dec
The Scottish Executive published a Bill to introduce the 'single transferable vote' system for local government elections; reduce the age at which people could stand as a councillor to 18; remove 'unnecessary' political restrictions on council employees standing for local authority elections; and establish an independent remuneration committee for councillors. It also published a summary of responses to consultation on an earlier draft Bill.
Source: Local Governance (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Local Governance (Scotland) Bill - Summary of Issues and Responses Received to 31 October 2003, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Consultation responses (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Nov
An independent report recommended that the Scottish Executive should begin to develop a measure of deprivation at the individual level in addition to the area-based measures, focusing on the poor material and social living standards which people faced as a result of poverty. The Executive said that the report provided a 'sound basis' for developing a long-term strategy for measuring deprivation, and accepted all the recommendations in principle.
Source: Nick Bailey et al., Measuring Deprivation in Scotland: Developing a long-term strategy - Final report, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Press release 10 September 2003, Scottish Executive
Links: Report | SE response | SE press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A study, based in Scotland, looked at what role information and communications technologies could play in helping unemployed people in rural areas find work.
Source: Ronald McQuaid, Colin Lindsay and Malcolm Greig, Wired for Work? ICT and job seeking in rural areas, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 933
Date: 2003-Sep
A report said that integrated (formerly 'new') community schools in Scotland were perceived to have promoted more inclusive approaches for vulnerable pupils, and to have improved the recording and identification of vulnerable groups, particularly looked after and accommodated children. They had also improved pupils' attitudes to school, and had a marked impact on the curriculum in the areas of health education and promotion. But they had variable success in engaging families. (New community schools were established in 1999 to expand the range of services offered to young people in disadvantaged areas, with the intention of both raising attainment and promoting social inclusion.)
Source: Pamela Sammons, Sally Power, Karen Elliot, Pamela Robertson, Carol Campbell and Geoff Whitty, Key Findings from the National Evaluation of the New Community Schools Pilot Programme in Scotland, Insight 7, Scottish Executive (0131 244 0092)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Aug
The Scottish Executive began consultation on whether urban regeneration companies were part of the solution to speeding up economic and community regeneration in Scotland.
Source: Urban Regeneration Companies: Consultation paper - Challenging practice, testing innovation, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Consultation document | SE press release
Date: 2003-Aug
A report described the key socio-economic differences and similarities between urban, small town and rural Scotland, based upon an analysis of data collected by the 1999-2000 Scottish Household Survey. It was based around five themes - general household and individual characteristics, economic activity and employment, income and poverty, health and access to health services, and neighbourhood/community.
Source: Living in Scotland: Urban-rural analysis of the Scottish Household Survey, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary
Date: 2003-Aug
The Scottish Executive began consultation on the draft Local Governance (Scotland) Bill, including proposals to introduce the single transferable vote system for the local government elections.
Source: Draft Local Governance (Scotland) Bill: Consultation, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
Researchers concluded that planning guidelines published in 1999 for rural development in Scotland remained broadly valid. But they identified widespread support for the definition of a more 'aspirational' vision for the future of rural Scotland.
Source: Land Use Consultants, Evaluation of National Planning Policy Guidelines 15 (NPPG15): Rural Development, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Date: 2003-Jun
The report was published of a project which explored people's understanding of the term well-being , and how the capacity to promote it could be developed by community groups and people working in health and community services.
Source: Building Community Well-Being: Exploration of themes and issues, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The final report of the Scottish Community Planning Task Force was published. It recommended that community planning partnerships should commit themselves to all or most of the key priorities of the Scottish Executive; and that the partnerships should build the capacity of communities to be engaged in community processes, with the support of the Scottish Executive, Scottish local authorities and Communities Scotland.
Source: Final Report of Community Planning Task Force, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-May
A report was published which explored the similarities and differences between people living in urban, rural and remote areas of Scotland across a number of social issues.
Source: Social Focus on Urban Rural Scotland 2003, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-May
The Scottish Executive said that a report on the impact of its policies on rural Scotland showed 'real progress' - thanks to higher investment in public services allied to a better understanding of the needs of rural communities.
Source: Rural Scotland: Taking Stock, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Press release 13.3.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
A research report provided information about the quality of life of older people living in rural Scotland, organised around five themes - income; housing; accessibility; health and social care; and community life. It highlighted problems under each of these headings.
Source: Lorna Philip, Alana Gilbert, Natasha Mauthner and Euan Phimister, Scoping Study of Older People in Rural Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary
Date: 2003-Mar
A report concerning the measurement of relative deprivation in Scotland was published. The report focused on measures of deprivation at ward and local authority level. It identified areas that are multiply deprived, and also those that are deprived within a specific domain, such as income or employment.
Source: Scottish Indices of Deprivation 2003, Social Disadvantage Research Centre/University of Oxford, available from Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Summary | Report | Press release (1) | Press release (2)
Date: 2003-Feb
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill designed to extend community ownership of land, remove barriers to social, economic and environmental development, and establish new rights of access. It gives crofting communities the right to buy their land even if the landlord does not want to sell.
Source: Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Act | Press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jan
