An article examined the potential for service co-production by rural older people in six Scottish settlements. It said that rural older people had high levels of participation (more so in lower intensity activities), and that there were few people willing to participate who were not already involved. The article recommended further research to explore what would encourage existing participants to co-produce.
Source: Sarah-Anne Munoz, Jane Farmer, Jeni Warburton, and Jenny Hall, 'Involving rural older people in service co-production: is there an untapped pool of potential participants?', Journal of Rural Studies, Volume 34
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
The Scottish Government published a report outlining anticipated benefits of independence for rural connectivity in Scotland, including: improved digital connectivity; fairer parcel delivery charges and ownership of the Royal Mail; fairer fuel prices and energy bills; better transport links; and development of rural renewables. The report said that an independent Scotland would establish an expert, independent Rural Connectivity Commission.
Source: Scotland's Future: Connecting rural Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jul
The Scottish Government published a prospectus for Scotland's islands, to be implemented subject to the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum, and to be followed then by formal consultation and any necessary legislation. The proposals included: a Bill for an Islands Act to place a duty on the Scottish Government and other public bodies to 'island-proof' their functions and decisions, and create a post of 'Minister for Island Communities'; the extension of enterprise areas at Arnish, Lyness, and Hatston to 2020; support for the establishment of island innovation zones; allocation of 100 per cent of the net income from the islands' sea bed leasing revenues to island communities rather than to central government, and commitments regarding the development of aquaculture; and commitments regarding the impact of oil and gas activities.
Source: Island Areas Ministerial Working Group, Empowering Scotland's Island Communities, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published a prospectus for Scotland's islands, to be implemented subject to the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum, and to be followed then by formal consultation and any necessary legislation. The proposals included: a Bill for an Islands Act to place a duty on the Scottish Government and other public bodies to 'island-proof' their functions and decisions, and create a post of 'Minister for Island Communities'; the extension of enterprise areas at Arnish, Lyness, and Hatston to 2020; support for the establishment of island innovation zones; allocation of 100 per cent of the net income from the islands' sea bed leasing revenues to island communities rather than to central government, and commitments regarding the development of aquaculture; and commitments regarding the impact of oil and gas activities.
Source: Island Areas Ministerial Working Group, Empowering Scotland's Island Communities, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published a Bill designed to make provision for the development of, consultation on, and publication of a set of national outcomes; place community partnerships on a statutory footing and impose duties regarding the planning and delivery of local outcomes; provide a mechanism for communities to have involvement in service planning and delivery; amend Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, extend the community right to buy and enable community bodies to buy abandoned or neglected land; provide community bodies with the right to request the purchase, lease, management, or use of land and buildings belonging to certain public bodies, Scottish ministers, or local authorities; require registers of common good property and require consultation about its disposal and use; restate and amend the law on allotments; and enable local authorities to reduce or remit non-domestic rates.
Source: Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published an analysis of stakeholder responses to its second consultation on proposals for the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The SRDP was a programme of economic, environmental, and social measures designed to develop rural Scotland, and the consultation had set out proposals for the new SRDP (2014-2020), including proposals on budgets, schemes, delivery mechanisms, and communications, as well as a discussion of data for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the programme. It said that satisfaction levels were mixed across all the proposals, with the highest level of dissatisfaction relating to the balance of funds between the budget headings, and specific dissatisfaction around the agri-environment proposals.
Source: Analysis of Responses to the Second Consultation on the Scottish Rural Development Programme (2014-2020): Summary report, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation analysis | Annex 1 | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published its analysis of responses to its consultation on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, which was published alongside this paper.
Source: Consultation on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill: Analysis of responses, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation responses | Consultation document | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish government responded to a report by a committee of MSPs on the delivery of regeneration in Scotland.
Source: Scottish Government Response to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee Report on the Delivery of Regeneration in Scotland, Scottish Parliament
Links: Report | MSPs report
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the role of private sector enterprises in building the resilience of rural communities, changes in rural enterprise activities, and their impact on rural life in Scotland.
Source: Artur Steiner and Jane Atterton, 'The contribution of rural businesses to community resilience', Local Economy, Volume 29 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined support for enterprise in Scotland, including the small loans and grants available to people in deprived communities.
Source: Neil McHugh, Morag Gillespie, Jana Loew, and Cam Donaldson, 'First steps towards self-employment microcredit for enterprise in Scotland', Scottish Affairs, Volume 23 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
An article said that community land trusts in Scotland demonstrated processes of pro-active change by rural communities, rather than a simple reaction to external shocks or events. Communities' aims were far wider than shock absorption, and included deliberately building their skills and capacity base.
Source: Sarah Skerratt, 'Enhancing the analysis of rural community resilience: evidence from community land ownership', Journal of Rural Studies, Volume 31
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report by a committee of MSPs said that regeneration should not be seen as 'strategy' or 'policy': but as a vision to reduce deprivation, inequality and long-term decline, delivered through a focused, strategic, cross-policy approach. Recommendations included: better partnerships and joined up working; a focus on prevention and reducing long-term inequalities; community led regeneration and community participation; and longer term funding to provide greater stability to projects.
Source: Delivery of Regeneration in Scotland, 1st Report 2014, SP Paper 476, Scottish Parliament Local Government and Regeneration Committee Committee
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2014-Feb
