8th December 2021

It’s often hard to gauge overall progress when it comes to one of the most wide ranging policy areas – land reform – because there are just so many dimensions to it and, by its very nature, it is of such fundamental significance to the country’s long term progress. But intermittently, opportunities present themselves to pause and reflect on how the wider policy landscape has shifted and whether any adjustments are required to maintain the momentum. The Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement – a critically important device in that respect – is five years old and due a review. The Scottish Government is consulting.

It’s ironic that in the midst of the most serious public health crisis in living memory, when resources are stretched beyond breaking point, the community-led health sector continues to struggle to be taken seriously as a provider of ‘upstream’ services that stand ready to alleviate pressure from the statutory services. Whether it’s the proven benefits of men’s sheds or Scotland’s many, long established community-led health improvement organisations, those who control the budgets seem incapable of shifting the needle. Not that more evidence is needed, but here’s another example of great value for money community led mental health services.

If we are to review the Community Empowerment Act, as the Scottish Government is committed to doing, we should surely do that in the context of whether the Act advances a broader set of ambitions for Scotland’s communities. For instance, how does it promote community wealth building, our renewed focus on place, a greater diversity of land ownership or on delivering local climate action. We seem to lack a ‘big picture’ vision for communities into which so many associated policies could become connected. Community Land Scotland’s Calum Macleod makes a start at joining some of the dots.

The misery experienced by thousands of households in the last couple of weeks who had their power lines cut off by Storm Arwin just as temperatures plummetted, simply served to reveal the misery experienced by untold numbers who can’t afford to heat their houses at any time. Over the years there have been many false dawns with projects promising to tackle fuel poverty head on, often organising around cooperative principles but none to my knowledge have proved effective. Neil Clapperton, CEO of Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association believes he may be onto something with Power Circle. Fingers crossed.