Have your say: Scottish government's Community Wealth Building Bill
Resource
Scottish government has published its Community Wealth Building Bill. Ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate and vote on the Bill we're producing a response – and are asking our Scottish members to feed into that response.
Our response to the Community Wealth Building Bill, on behalf of the co-operative sector in Scotland, will be sent to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to inform and influence the debate/vote.
The Bill creates a legal duty on Scottish Ministers to prepare a statement, setting out how policy in their area will support community wealth building in Scotland. It explicitly lists development of co-operatives as an action that “may” be included in these statements, alongside other outcomes that co-operatives are well-placed to deliver, such as circulation and retention of wealth in the local economy.
The Bill also creates a legal duty on local authorities, enterprise agencies and other public bodies (most notably excluding Scottish National Investment Bank) to collaborate in the creation of community wealth building action plans. Again, it explicitly lists the development of co-operatives as an action that “may” be included in these plans.
In addition, The Bill creates a legal duty on a range of public bodies, including Scottish national Investment Bank to “ have regard” for government guidance on community wealth building in their strategies and plans.
We are keen to understand our member’s views on this Bill. In particular:
- Whether listing co-operative development and other aligned activities as things that "may" form part of community wealth building is strong enough
- Whether the Bill should impose more of a duty on the Scottish National Investment Bank
Click the link below to read and download the Bill and see here for the guidance, which includes a synopsis of the Bill.
To feed into this response email Policy Officer Tom Laing ([email protected]) by 19 May.
