Highlands Welcomes the Community Empowerment Act

15th May 2016

A short introduction to the Community Empowerment Act, including input from the Highland Third Sector Interface, Highland Council, NHS Highland, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

To read the legislation go to http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2015/6/contents/enacted

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act

The Community Empowerment Act will help to empower community bodies through the ownership of land and buildings, and by strengthening their voices in the decisions that matter to them. It will also improve outcomes for communities by improving the process of community planning, ensuring that local service providers work together even more closely with communities to meet the needs of the people who use them.

The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2015 and received Royal Assent, becoming an Act, on 24 July.

The Act does a number of things including: extending the community right to buy, making it simpler for communities to take over public sector land and buildings, and strengthening the statutory base for community planning. Crucially it can help empower community bodies through the ownership of land and buildings and strengthening their voices in the decisions and services that matter to them.