What is it about?
This research draws on 61 semi-structured interviews with MSPs, MPs, local and community councillors, Audit Scotland officers, public service managers and local residents and activists in a single ward in East Scotland. The findings uncovered three factors that must be in place for community empowerment to be effective: 1) shared strategy; 2) shared resources; and 3) shared accountability.
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Why is it important?
Overall the research highlighted a wide range of problems within the current system: around the lack of representation; the lack of engagement with communities; the unequal distribution of resources; and a widespread lack of enthusiasm for greater community empowerment.
Perspectives
The Community Empowerment agenda in Scotland represents a positive move towards tackling some of these long-standing problems within the current system. Yet without systemic investment in a shared strategy, shared resources and shared accountability mechanisms the potential of this agenda is not likely to be seen.
Dr Ian C Elliott
Northumbria University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Community Empowerment Act and localism under devolution in Scotland, International Journal of Public Sector Management, April 2019, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/ijpsm-03-2018-0080.
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