‘Make no mistake – this is one of the most pernicious pieces of union-bashing legislation you will ever see’
The ongoing Conservative Party psycho-drama has dominated the headlines over the last few weeks (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK).
While it has been good to see Boris Johnson finally held accountable, it’s meant that many important issues have slipped under the radar.
The Strikes Bill returns to parliament today (23 June). It won’t get anywhere near the coverage of the vote on the Privileges Committee report, but it should.
Make no mistake – this is one of the most pernicious pieces of union-bashing legislation you will ever see.
And the TUC is by no means alone in saying this.
Over the weekend the UN workers’ rights watchdog, the ILO, demanded that the UK bring trade union rights into line with international law.
In a rare intervention, it instructed UK ministers to “seek technical assistance” from the body and to report back to the ILO in September.
The last time the ILO issued this type of rebuke to the UK was in 1995.
Litany of critics
The spiteful legislation has faced a barrage of criticism from employers, civil liberties organisations, the joint committee on human rights, House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, race and gender equalities groups, employment rights lawyers, politicians around the world – as well as a whole host of other organisations.
It is no surprise that this Bill has upset and enraged so many.
The UK already has the most restrictive anti-strikes legislation in Western Europe. And these reforms will take the country in an even more draconian direction.
That would mean that when workers lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.
As the TUC has repeatedly warned the Strikes Bill is undemocratic, unworkable and almost certainly illegal.
Far from preventing strikes, the Bill will poison industrial relations and escalate disputes.
And for what? So Rishi Sunak can throw some red meat to his backbenchers and look tough to his ungovernable party.
Next steps
So where do we go from here?
The Strikes Bill is back in the Commons after a series of bruising defeats in the Lords.
The government will whip its MPs to vote down much-needed amendments as they try and fast-track the legislation onto the statute books.
Our challenge remains the same. Unions will continue to fight the Bill at every stage and will not rest until these poisonous reforms are defeated, and if passed into law, repealed by the next Labour government.
Last summer, ministers changed the law to allow agencies to supply employers with workers to fill in for those on strike. Unions are currently challenging the change in courts – with a judgment expected soon.
The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty that is vital for the balance of power in the workplace.
We must defend it at all costs. And as I told a TUC rally last month, we are also very clear that we will stand by any worker who exercises their fundamental right to strike.
Report concludes policy has saved lives and cut hospital admissions
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has today published the final report on the independent evaluation of the impact of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland. Evidence shows that MUP has had a positive impact on health outcomes, including addressing alcohol-related health inequalities.
It has reduced deaths directly caused by alcohol consumption by an estimated 13.4% and hospital admissions by 4.1%, with the largest reductions seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.
MUP led to a 3% reduction in alcohol consumption at a population level, as measured by retail sales. The reduction was particularly driven by sales of cider and spirits through the off-trade (supermarkets and shops) products that increased the most in price. Evidence from a range of data sources shows that the greatest reductions were amongst those households purchasing the most alcohol, with little impact on households purchasing at lower levels.
For those people with alcohol dependence there was limited evidence of any reduction in consumption and there is some evidence of consequences for those with established alcohol dependence on low incomes, that led them to prioritise spending on alcohol over food. At a population level there is no clear evidence of substantial negative impacts on social harms such as alcohol-related crime or illicit drug use.
The evaluation report shows that while the impact on alcoholic drink producers and retailers varied depending on the mix of products made or sold, there is no clear evidence of substantial negative impacts on the alcoholic drinks industry in Scotland as a whole.
Clare Beeston, Lead for the evaluation of MUP, Public Health Scotland said: “We have seen reductions in deaths and hospital admissions directly caused by sustained, high levels of alcohol consumption, and this is further evidence that those drinking at harmful and hazardous levels have reduced their consumption.
“MUP alone is not enough to address the specific and complex needs of those with alcohol dependence who will often prioritise alcohol over other needs, and it is important to continue to provide services and any wider support that addresses the root cause of their dependence.
“Those living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas in Scotland experience alcohol-specific death rates at least five times greater than those living in the least deprived areas. Alcohol-related disorders are a leading contributor to health inequalities in Scotland.
“Overall, the evidence shows that MUP has had a positive impact on improving health outcomes, including alcohol-related health inequalities, and can play a part in addressing the preventable harm that affect far too many people, families and communities.”
Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science, Public Health Scotland said: “Public Health Scotland is committed to evidence-informed policy, and we are confident in the validity of the robust research published today. The evidence in our report is consistent with earlier research on minimum pricing elsewhere.
“Public Health Scotland is confident that MUP is an effective mechanism to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland and we support the continuation of MUP beyond April 2024.”
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham has welcomed research from Public Health Scotland which concludes that Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) has saved lives, reduced hospital admissions and had a ‘positive impact’ on health.
In their final report of a series, researchers said that ‘robust, independent evaluation’ and the best-available, wide-ranging evidence drawing on 40 independent research publications, showed that MUP has been effective in its main goal of reducing alcohol harm with the reduction in deaths and hospital admissions specific to the timing of MUP implementation.
This follows a study published in March by PHS and University of Glasgow showing MUP reduced alcohol consumption by 3%, deaths directly caused by alcohol consumption by 13.4% and hospital admissions by 4.1%. compared to what would have happened if MUP had not been in place.
Ms Whitham said: ““We’re determined to do all we can to reduce alcohol-related harm and, as this research demonstrates, our world-leading policy is saving lives, reducing alcohol harms and hospital admissions. Just one life lost to alcohol-related harm is one too many and my sympathy goes to all those who have lost a loved one.
“MUP has also contributed to reducing health inequalities. The study found the largest reductions in deaths and hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.
“We know that additional support is needed for some groups, including those dealing with alcohol dependence and issues such as homelessness. That’s why, alongside MUP, last year £106.8 million was made available to Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships to support local and national initiatives. We will now carefully consider this research as part of ongoing work on reviewing MUP.”
Commenting on news reports of fights breaking out between parents at Ferryhill Primary School, UNISON has denounced the actions as intolerable and are demanding that more must be done to protect all staff, parents and pupils from the threat of violence at work.
UNISON Edinburgh City branch secretary, Tom Connolly said: “This is a serious situation, which we have been working with stakeholders to ensure all pupils, parents and staff are safe.
“It is not acceptable that staff regularly feel threatened at work. We can’t allow any aggressive behaviour towards anyone in our school.”
“UNISON, with other unions, has been trying to find a solution for some months. We are working together with the head teacher, who is extremely supportive, the police and local authority. We are doing everything we can to support staff and parents.
“The unions have met with senior leaders at Edinburgh Council and requested community police to support staff at the beginning and end of the school day when the behaviours are at their worst. We are also looking to see if a voluntary sector family support organisation can provide help.”
“UNISON will continue to work collaboratively over the summer, with the school management team, city councillors and others, to ensure pupils, parents and staff can return to a safe environment for learning.”
The Chair of Ferryhill Parent Council made this statement back on 1st June:
It is with a heavy heart that I must make this statement.
As parents, our top priority is always our children. We willingly sacrifice our free time and forego attending events in order to organize activities and provide treats for the kids at Ferryhill. We strive to ensure that every child is included and receives equal treatment. Over the past few months, we have taken days off from work and given up our personal time to address significant issues that were left behind by the previous parent council.
As the Chair, it is unacceptable for our members to be subjected to backlash, derogatory comments, and verbal abuse.
Regrettably, we have experienced two separate serious incidents today, which will be thoroughly investigated, and the police will be involved if deemed necessary.
Additionally, we have received negative feedback from parents about the selection of activities we have on offer. Taking all of this into account, I have made the difficult decision to suspend any upcoming events that we had planned, as well as future projects aimed at supporting the children at Ferryhill.
After the investigation concludes, we will assess the situation and make a decision regarding whether to proceed or not. Furthermore, we will seek support from the parent forum for any future decisions.
It is important to note that we are here to represent parents and caregivers. However, it is crucial to remember that we are also parents ourselves.
If there is any parent that witnesses the two incidents and would like to come forward please contact me on ferryhillparentcouncil@yahoo.com
Children who received Mary’s Meals at school in Malawi win a gold medal at the Special Olympic World Games
A boy and girl who received Mary’s Meals at school in Malawi have won the gold medal in mixed doubles tennis at the Special Olympic World Games.
Hannah Winesi and Patrick Sichamba, who both have additional needs, are celebrating after lifting the coveted award in a match against a team from Bulgaria.
Patrick, 16, also hopes to make it to the final of the singles competition on Sunday, after winning three qualifying matches.
Mary’s Meals, which was founded in a shed in Dalmally in the Highlands, feeds children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a nutritious school meal attracts hungry children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and hope for a better future.
In Malawi, where a third of all primary school-age children eat Mary’s Meals, the charity serves a maize and soya porridge, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. This is known locally as ‘likuni phala’.
Patrick says: “I was able to train relentlessly because the phala I received every day from Mary’s Meals gave me energy.
“My dad passed away when I was really little. But I think my mum is pretty proud of me, and so is my teacher. I played tennis with him for the first time.
“Tennis has changed my life. Without tennis, I would never have known that I could do anything really well. And I probably never would have gotten on an airplane in my life!”
Mary’s Meals began by feeding just 200 children in Malawi in 2002. The charity now reaches more than 2.4 million children every school day in 18 of the world’s poorest countries.
Karen Gray, Director of Communications at Mary’s Meals, says: “Our life-changing meals attract desperately hungry children into the classroom where they can gain an education and – in the case of Hannah and Patrick – discover an Olympic talent for tennis!
“We are only able to feed 2.4 million little ones every school day because of the kindness of people across the UK who support our work.
“On behalf of the Mary’s Meals family, I would like to say a huge congratulations to these inspirational young people – and good luck to Patrick for Sunday!”
The Special Olympic World Games, currently taking place in Berlin, is the world’s largest inclusive sports event, with around 7,000 athletes from 190 countries competing in 26 sports.
Enid Mauluka, National Director Special Olympics Malawi, says: “For Patrick, if he can’t be in the classroom, then he can’t be on the playing field.
“Children are not motivated in sports or even in school unless there is a meal, because if you’re hungry you have no energy to participate. So, for that reason the Mary’s Meals school feeding programme has made a big difference.”
It costs just £19.15 to feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals every day for a school year. To find out more, please visit marysmeals.org.uk
Quality Meat Scotland has announced its new five-year strategy, which seeks to build upon the red meat sector’s contribution to Scotland’s national economy by making the nation the ‘go-to’ choice for premium red meat across the world.
According to QMS’s recent independent impact report, the Scottish red meat industry outperformed the rest of the UK by £130 million in production and £124 million in retail performances between 2016 and 2022.
The brand now looks to build upon this success with its new ‘Scotland: The choice for premium red meat’ strategy, which was launched at QMS’s annual industry breakfast briefing at the Royal Highland Show. Its mission, to lead the development of Scotland’s red meat sector by driving demand from consumers who recognise the brands as a mark on integrity, provenance and with sustainability at its core.
Built around three strategic pillars; Provenance; Productivity and Profitability; Planet and Place, the five-year plan looks to lead the development of Scotland’s red meat sector by driving demand from consumers who recognise the Scotch brands as a mark of integrity.
Central to enhancing integrity and driving demand is the delivery of three ‘game-changing’ projects, which will enable the Scotch and Specially Selected Pork brands to compete in both the home and global markets.
The three games changing projects, include advancing work on genomics, boosting brand integrity with world-leading assurance for customers, and securing funding for a verification system for the eating quality of Scottish red meat proteins.
The Scotch and Specially Selected Pork brands will also embrace new sustainability criteria, this will be delivered within the scope of the quality assurance schemes.
Kate Rowell, Chair of QMS, said:“Our industry, like so many others, has gone through a period of unprecedented volatility. A global pandemic, a constitutional upheaval from leaving the European Union and a war on our Continent have all erupted in the last three years.
“Added to that, there is the ongoing climate emergency which is challenging the way the world lives, works and consumes. Food security pressures are growing and, closer to home, wholesale change to agriculture policy is on the horizon.
“Our new vision is to make Scotland the premium choice for red meat across the globe. Ambitious and bold, it reflects both the passion we have for the red meat supply chain we work on behalf of and our belief in its potential.”
The strategy sets out how the industry body will work collaboratively to deliver authenticity and a competitive edge under its Provenance pillar, with the Scotch brands evolving to project environmental credentials.
New technology will improve traceability and, as a result, less red meat farmed and processed in Scotland will be sold as ‘British’ and an increased proportion of lamb will be sold with Scottish provenance.
QMS will focus on Productivity and Profitability by deepening relationships from a range of UK market channels, as well as targeting premium markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia to support exports and drive profitability.
Steps are also being taken to encourage more farmers to engage with the Monitor Farms Scotland Programme, helping to improve efficiency across the sector and promote diversification.
Finally, QMS will position Scotland on the global stage as the home of sustainably produced beef, lamb and pork. The organisation will also go further by introducing an emissions reduction programme.
Sarah Millar, Chief Executive at QMS, said:“Our aim is to make Scotland the choice for premium red meat, but we must be unwavering and commercial in our focus in order to achieve this.
“We know what success looks like. It will be an industry with greater confidence, with profitability and productivity at its heart, delivering a product high in demand, viewed by our key customers – here and overseas – as their premium red meat choice.”
The newly launched strategy reaffirms QMS’ commitment to its members and people right across the supply chain, deepening its core activity to nurture and utilise the best of talent across the sector that will support the delivery of the strategy.
THOUSANDS OF NUT CHOCOLATE BARS SET TO BE SAMPLED ACROSS FIVE CITIES IN JUNE
Do you consider yourself to be a bit ‘nutty’? Are you nuts for nut chocolate? A new survey* by chocolate brand Ritter Sport, has revealed that the people in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester are some of the nuttiest, fun and nut chocolate-loving in the UK.
Now they are going to be rewarded with an epic and totally nuts giveaway, unlike anything seen on the streets of these cities before!
This June, thousands of free Ritter Sport nut chocolate bars are being given away in five truly nutty sampling events in each of the cities**. But beware, it’s not just the general public who will be looking to get their paws on the free nut chocolate: a scurry of giant, nut-loving red squirrels has heard just how nut-packed Ritter Sport Nut Chocolate is and will try anything to squirrel the chocolate away for themselves … read on to find out more.
Speaking about the survey results and the upcoming ‘Go Nuts for Nuts’ activity Josephine Skinner, Senior Brand Manager, Ritter Sport, says: “We’re delighted to discover that people living in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester are embracing their fun-loving, adventurous sides and what’s more, they love chocolate, including nut chocolate.
“So, what better way to celebrate and thank them than by sampling many thousands of bars of our moreish Ritter Sport nut chocolate in their cities during June! People are in for a real treat and, just like our chocolate, the activity is going to be totally nutty too – you won’t want to miss it!
“The Ritter Sport nut range includes Milk Whole Hazelnuts, Honey Salted Almonds, Dark Whole Hazelnuts, White Whole Hazelnuts and Cashew, packed full of the best nuts and covered in 100% certified sustainably sourced chocolate.”
Going nuts for nuts, funny habits… and chocolate body paint
Over half (56%) of the people surveyed in these cities who described themselves as “slightly nutty” said chocolate is one of their favourite things to eat and, when it comes to nut chocolate, far from being polarising, an impressive 37% stated that they regularly consume chocolate containing nuts!
People from these five cities also value having a good time. According to the study, 58% of respondents in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester “like to have fun” – this rises to 61% in London – while 40% consider themselves “fun-loving, with a crazy and adventurous spirit”.
Almost 3 in 5 (59%) who like to have fun said they regularly consume chocolate, and respondents who like to have fun are also more likely to enjoy trying new flavours of chocolate (53%). A further 33% overall said they would love to “run around a city in a giant chocolate treasure hunt” – wouldn’t that be fun!
Those who took part were also happy to divulge the unusual habits or behaviours that may have contributed to their being perceived as having “a crazy and adventurous spirit” and / or being “slightly nutty”.
Up to 44% admit to “not being able to stop laughing at something funny”, 35% say they have been heard “speaking to pets or imitating animal sounds during conversations”, while 31% have been known to “break into spontaneous dance or sing silly songs to entertain themselves or others”.
Nearly a quarter of all those who took part – 21% – admitted to having used chocolate as “edible body paint for a playful and indulgent experience”, while only slightly fewer people – 19% – said they’d like to “bathe in a bath full of chocolate”. However, people in Manchester (23%), Edinburgh (21%) and London (20%) are more likely than those in the other three cities to fancy a bath full of chocolate.
Overall, the research suggests that the residents of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester are truly some of the nuttiest in the UK. They are fun-loving, adventurous, and enjoy trying new experiences and flavours, with a love of great-tasting nut chocolate made with high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.
Dates revealed – but there’s a plot afoot….
The news of the thousands of free bars of nut chocolate being given away has caught the attention of the great British red squirrels, which now plotting to get their paws on the chocolate before the public does.
“Rumour has it that the squirrels are planning to congregate in these cities and track down our nut chocolate bars,” concludes Ms Skinner.
“It remains to be seen whether they will get their paws on them, but one thing is sure: the competition for these nutty treats is set to be fierce.”
Ritter Sport has assured the public that they will take all necessary precautions to protect their chocolate from the squirrels and ensure that everyone gets a chance to sample their delicious nut chocolate bars. So, nutty city residents, get ready for a fun and adventurous June filled with chocolate and a squirrel chase like no other!
Firm’s sponsorship deal will boost access to the sport
An Edinburgh sports graduate has won her dream job as a netball development officer thanks to leading independent accountancy and business advisory firm, Johnston Carmichael.
Correen Davies, 27, will be responsible for training new coaches and umpires, increasing the volunteer network, and being a visible point of contact in Edinburgh for the sport.
Originally from Orkney, Correen moved to the city to study Sports Development and Coaching at Edinburgh College before gaining a degree from Edinburgh Napier University. A longstanding netball fan and player, she had always hoped to secure a job in netball after graduating.
She said: “When asked by a lecturer on our first week, ‘what job do you hope to get after this qualification’ my answer was, ‘the job doesn’t exist yet, but other sports have development officers, and I’d love to do that for netball’. Four years later and now I am in a full-time position where I can help to realise the potential of the sport in my local authority.
“I’d like to thank Johnston Carmichael for its generous contribution towards funding my dream job. I am lucky to work with some wonderful partner organisations where I hope to progress netball across its full pathway. From grassroots to high performance, there are opportunities for everyone regardless of your route.”
Correen’s appointment is part of Johnston Carmichael’s new partnership with Netball Scotland.
The firm provided a funding package worth more than £30,000 to help grow the sport after COVID-19 restrictions and school closures curbed young people’s ability to take up the game.
The deal, which will additionally support new development officer posts in Glasgow and Dundee, is also being used to fund ‘Road to Region’ camps and pay for emergency grants to junior clubs with critical needs linked to participation, accessibility, training and competition.
Martin Osler, Chief People Officer, Johnston Carmichael, said: “It is extremely rewarding for Johnston Carmichael to be involved in such an exciting partnership with Netball Scotland.
“Supporting the appointment of development officers is crucial to improving access to netball. Their work will help to engage the new players, coaches and umpires required to grow the sport and enable new generations to participate.
“Sports such as netball play a vital role in enhancing the health and wellbeing of future generations, building their confidence, and providing them with experience in working within a team, as well as other vital skills needed to thrive both personally and professionally.
“As a firm, we are committed to leaving a legacy in the communities we serve, and we hope to make a tangible difference to the aspirations and achievements of young people across Scotland with this partnership.”
The first panel included Brian Davey and Emma Swift from the Improvement Service (IS), which provides resources and support to community councillors and Community Council Liaison Officers (CCLOs), alongside Dr Oliver Escobar from the University of Edinburgh and Andrew Paterson from Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC).
Jackie Weaver, who became a household name during the pandemic thanks to her firm handling of a contentious parish council meeting, was also on the panel to provide insight on the significant differences between Community Councils in Scotland and Town and Parish Councils in England, where she works for the Cheshire Association of Local Councils.
Community Councils vs Town and Parish Councils
Committee convener Arianne Burgess MSP got the ball rolling with a question about the strengths of Community Councils and what role they could play in democratic renewal at a local level.
Dr Escobar highlighted the important role that Community Councils can play at the heart of their communities, despite having to work in difficult circumstances, while Emma Swift from the IS mentioned the vital support that many Community Councils provided during the pandemic – and how that resilience work has continued to address other challenges.
The committee was particularly interested in the differences between Community Councils in Scotland and the Town and Parish Council system in England, and Jackie Weaver was able to explain in some detail how the system differs north and south of the border:
“Over my 25-year career, there has been an enormous change in England. Twenty-five years ago, our town and parish councils were very much like your community councils except that they had tax raising powers, although they did not do very much with them.
“We have seen central government funding for our principal authorities in England reduce dramatically and we have seen town and parish councils stepping up and filling the gaps.
“The assumption is that anybody trying to raise money by tax will be attacked: nobody likes paying tax. One of the unique points about a town or parish council, however, is that you can see that every penny that is raised is spent locally.
“The other thing that we are able to do is borrow money. We have a number of councils that take on large infrastructure projects. Clearly, if you are a parish council with perhaps 10,000 electors, you will not be able to raise half a million pounds just through your council tax without it having a serious impact on a household’s budget. We are able to borrow money and we are seeing an increase in the amount of money that our town and parish councils are borrowing to deliver serious infrastructure.
“One of the things that is absolutely essential for us to succeed as a movement is proper support. We have 10,000 parish councils and an army of about 7,500 clerks who manage those. We provide support, advice, guidance, help and so on to about 240 parish councils in Cheshire, and that costs our principal authorities £7,000 a year. We are talking peanuts, but what it delivers on the ground because of the way that we work is something really exceptional.”
Legal status of Community Councils
Ivan McKee MSP raised questions about how Community Councils are perceived, given the differences in how they operate across the country and even within local authority areas.
Dr Escobar spoke about how difficult it can be for Community Councils to operate effectively because they simply do not have the powers to carry out many of the activities which are needed in their local area. This can make it difficult to recruit new community councillors, which means that Community Councils are often not representative of the communities they serve.
There are, however, very clear legal reasons why Community Councils are unable to provide some of the same services as Town and Parish Councils, as Emma Swift explained:
“The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 created community councils as unincorporated bodies, which is why they cannot do community asset transfers. It also excludes them from some funding applications. The conditions of funding applications sometimes say, “You must be an incorporated body”.
“There are things such as local place plans that they can get involved in and use to create ideas about what they want in their local community, with the idea that the local authority can then take some of those ideas forward. However, they are always reliant on other people to take those ideas forward because of the restrictions that have been placed on them right from the start.”
Planning and Community Engagement
Willie Coffey MSP raised the issue of planning, and particularly whether Community Councils have access to the proper expertise and resources to help them navigate the planning system.
Dr Escobar highlighted the survey of community councillors from 2019, in which most respondents identified public and community engagement as the area in which they wanted more support.
Emma Swift spoke about the partnership between the Improvement Service and the Open University, which provides free access to online courses in a range of relevant skills for community councillors, as well as the partnerships we have developed with other organisations such as Sustrans, Scottish Tech Army and Geoxphere to share their existing resources and tools with Community Councils.
Parish and Town Councils also have a role in the planning process, but Jackie Weaver warned against creating “an army of new planners”; community councillors need to be able to navigate and understand the system, but don’t need to become experts in planning to do that.
Mark Griffin MSP asked about community engagement, and how Community Councils ensure that their views are representative and not just that of individual members.
Dr Escobar referred back to his point about Community Councils needing to be representative to give them legitimacy, and went on to speak about the difficult position that Community Councils find themselves in and how this could be resolved:
“We have had Community Councils for 50 years and, although we need to celebrate the achievement, I think that the time has come to either reform or rebuild.
“We could reform Community Councils so that we have one of the most decentralised systems of governance, as we should do if we want to tackle issues locally and nationally. Alternatively, we could rebuild them. We could just start again if people do not want to reform them as they are.
“However, that reform is not just about Community Councils. If you think carefully and place Community Councils on a map and see the connections that they have to community planning partnerships, local government, health and social care integration boards, third sector interfaces and the planning process, you realise that, if you had highly functioning, dynamic, participative and inclusive Community Councils, you could unlock a lot of potential in those systems of local government that do not work well at the moment.
“It is not a silver bullet, but it is not far from it if we bite the bullet and do that reform.”
Community Empowerment Act
Miles Briggs MSP asked about the impact of the Community Empowerment Act, which Emma Swift pointed out is a mixed bag for Community Councils because of their unincorporated status; some parts of the legislation apply to Community Councils, while other sections require the work to be taken forward by development trusts or SCIOs (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations).
The panel then made their concluding remarks, including the importance of involving Community Councils themselves in any local democracy discussions and consultation.
Dr Escobar summed up his thoughts on the way forward for Community Councils: “My main concluding point is to say that surely the time has come – we have got to do this.
“Some people might ask whether we should spend time on such reform and whether people care about it. People care about having better places to live in, having better local services, improving their life condition and addressing things such as the cost of living crisis. All those things require a vibrant combination of local institutions that can make things happen.
“Community councils have to be part of that, and they have been part of that in many places. We need to learn and to go for the reform. The problem is not about knowing what to do but about knowing how to do it.”
The second panel featured community councillors from across Scotland, with representatives from Moray, West Lothian, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Shetland and Aberdeenshire, as well as Debra Duke, Community Councils Liaison Officer in Moray, who has also worked as a parish clerk in England.
Individual Community Councils were represented as well as forums and associations of Community Councils in West Lothian, Moray, Shetland and Edinburgh.
This session provided a unique opportunity for community councillors to speak about the range of work they carry out across Scotland, including innovative projects like the Cambuslang Bank Hub, as well as raising concerns about the difficulties they face and making suggestions for how Community Councils can be improved in the future.
Community Councils and Local Authorities
Community councillors were asked about the relationship with their local authorities and the support provided by the Improvement Service through the Scottish Community Councils website and the Knowledge Hub group, where community councillors can share best practice and ask each other questions.
Bill Pitt, of New Aberdour, Tyrie and Pennan Community Council, highlighted the importance of the relationship between Community Councils and the local council: “As a Community Council, we do not work in a vacuum; we work very closely with Aberdeenshire Council and it is a two-way street.
“We need the council as much as possible and we appreciate and respect its assistance, including from individual departments and so forth.
“Aberdeenshire Council and other local authorities need Community Councils. We are the eyes and the ears for the local authority. It is very important for Community Councils to work with the local authority to identify particular funds that might be available and solutions that we can work together on.
“Working closely with the local authority is the most important thing that we can do, because it has the expertise to point us in certain directions in areas that we might need some guidance on.”
John Bachtler of Cambuslang Community Council spoke about the work South Lanarkshire Council has done to support community councillors to understand the planning system, including the creation of a toolkit to help Community Councils navigate issues around planning.
The Joint Forum of Community Councils in West Lothian, represented at this event by Donald Stavert, enjoys a very positive relationship with West Lothian Council, meeting the chief executive twice a year; though Donald was at pains to point out that this good working relationship doesn’t stop them from criticising West Lothian Council when they need to!
The Joint Forum has also worked closely with the Improvement Service over the last 18 months, including an ultimately unsuccessful joint bid for Scottish Government funding to support the use of the Consul software for community engagement.
In talking about the difficulties faced by Community Councils as a result of their unincorporated status under the 1973 legislation, Steve Kerr of Edinburgh Association of Community Councils was clear that there needs to be a change: “Frankly, I believe that we need to go back to the drawing board.
“We need to go back to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and free up some of those opportunities and to remove some of the restrictions that were placed on community councils in the act.
“We can be involved locally in agitating for a community asset transfer for a community centre—which we did, representing the community council—but we cannot be physically involved, which, quite honestly, is an inhibitor.
“That would be something that would be appreciated by the community because we could be at the forefront of things. We do play a co-ordinating role but I do not think that it is widely appreciated as it might be.”
CCLO support for Community Councils
Debra Duke, CCLO at Moray Council, was able to bring her unique perspective of both the Scottish and English systems, having previously worked as a parish clerk in England.
As well as many of the same points about clerk support and tax raising powers mentioned by Jackie Weaver, Debra also impressed on the committee the need for Community Councils to be supported by good governance through policies and working practices.
She highlighted that these are often shared between local authorities, as many CCLOs only work part-time or have other roles to perform: “I work 20 hours a week; I have 17 established community councils, but I could have 20. I am just firefighting and I am finding that I cannot put in place the proper support that the councils need.
“The Improvement Service delivered a brilliant session of social media training to the Northern Alliance of community council liaison officers last year; it was a train-the-trainer session, but I have not had the time to pass that training on to the Moray councils.
“Everyone is quite stretched and no one has enough time or resources. If Community Councils had more resources to, say, employ secretaries, that would really strengthen their ability to carry out the work that they need to do.”
Future of Community Councils
On the future of Community Councils, Donald Stavert spoke about a blueprint which had been developed by all the West Lothian Community Councils before the pandemic, and which was going to be the main subject for discussion at a national conference organised by the Joint Forum of Community Councils in West Lothian for 10 June.
The issue of funding for Community Councils was raised by Bill Pitt, who pointed out that Community Councils provide an excellent return on investment:
“Someone on the previous panel said that there are something in the neighbourhood of 1,200 community councils in Scotland; if you look at the budget numbers—that is, at the admin grants received by the Community Councils from the local authority—you will see that, at the high end, they might get £1,000.
“In other words, £1.2 million of public money funds community councils throughout Scotland, and we can see how much Scotland and its communities gain from that little bit of money and that very small investment.
“Clearly, if what we are looking at is Community Councils being given more powers—or whatever the future might hold for them—we can only imagine what return we might get if the councils had serious funding.”
Recruiting young people to Community Councils
All the panellists had something to say about the difficulties of recruiting young people to join Community Councils, as well as the various methods and initiatives that they have used to try and attract a younger demographic.
Alastair Kennedy, from the Joint Community Councils of Moray, highlighted an initiative where they gave a group of local youngsters £50,000 from the Investing in Communities Fund to run their own participatory budgeting exercise, to make sure that the money was being spent on something important to them.
Cambuslang Community Council has reached out to local youth groups and has involved students on the Community Development course at Glasgow University in individual projects, while Shayne McLeod from the Association of Shetland Community Councils spoke about their work with the local Scottish Youth Parliament member and a local project called OPEN, which has seen young people set up and run their own committee.
Barry Cathie, himself a relatively young community councillor from Rutherglen, was clear about the importance of involving young people in the process: “We need a voice of young people in the community.
“At the moment, there is not much for them to get involved in. They cannot really voice their concerns. If they come to meetings on subjects that they are interested in, their voices will be heard and they can bring their experience to us and tell us things that they know that we do not know.
“It will also give them training in how to become involved, and how to become a community councillor when the time comes—I think that people need to be over 18 to get elected. It is good to have that because, as I say, it gives them a voice and improves their image in the community as they become better people.”
The final words of the session came from John Bachtler, who urged the committee to be bold in their actions:“I wanted to personally encourage the committee to go for significant reform, because there is a real democratic deficit. I work on regional local development across Europe.
“We have virtually the poorest community empowerment and representation structures in Europe, given the absence of a community level of influence.
“We have towns of 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 people that are without any form of self-government. I encourage the committee to think radically.”
YOUNG SWIMMERS in Portobello have received a day of vital water safety lessons alongside an Olympic medallist to mark Drowning Prevention Week.
Former Olympian Stephen Milne made a star appearance during a Learn to Swim event held at Portobello Swim Centre, which delivered water safety lessons to 77 children as part of the awareness week.
Nine swim classes were delivered across the day by local swim teachers and the Olympic swimmer, teaching crucial water safety skills, from floating techniques to the Water Safety Code. The event helped build on Learn to Swim’s foundations of creating ‘Generation Swim’ – a generation of safe, competent and confident swimmers.
Portobello Swim Centre, part of Edinburgh Leisure, is one of more than 160 pools in Scotland to offer Learn to Swim lessons as part of a National Framework made possible through a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water.
Stephen Milne said: “No one should ever have to feel unsafe or uncomfortable in water, that’s why days like these are so important to reinforce the importance of water safety.
“One reason why Learn to Swim events like this are so important is to energise young swimmers to continue to learn and improve what is a vital life skill.
“It’s always a thrill getting back in the pool but particularly when it can leave a real impact on future generations.”
Stephen won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil and has 5 Commonwealth Games medals having competed in three separate Commonwealth Games since 2014. He is also a world and European champion.
Following the lessons, Stephen hosted a captivating Q&A session to engage with all attendees. To commemorate the day, he presented aspiring swimmers with autographed swim caps and t-shirts, leaving a lasting impression with budding swim stars.
Kate Cramb, Operations Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “To host such a meaningful event is a real honour. Water safety is such a huge issue especially during the summer months when families start to spend more time near water – so these vital lessons genuinely do save lives.
“It was also great to welcome an Olympic star in Stephen, who was brilliant in reinforcing the importance of learning to swim to kids, all the while keeping it really fun and uplifting.”
The event marked the end of Drowning Prevention Week, in which more than 75,000 children were offered vital water safety lessons through the Learn to Swim National Framework across the span of the week.
Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “Swimming lessons are the absolute foundations to ensuring water safety.
“To have Stephen’s presence and active involvement in them made for an unforgettable experience for the children which will hopefully inspire them to continue their safe swimming journey.
“Drowning is far too common in Scotland, and it is something that we are committed to addressing as a partnership. The event in Portobello allowed us to do that in an engaging way with children.”
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs with Scottish Water, added: “We are thrilled with the tremendous success of the water safety event, which undoubtedly left a lasting impact on all participants.
“It is so important to see the next generation of confident swimmers engaging in water safety. Drowning prevention is a topic that needs serious attention all year round but the awareness week gave us another opportunity to reinforce lifesaving skills.”
Drowning Prevention Week, organised by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), stands as one of the largest water safety campaigns in the UK and Ireland, specifically targeting the summer season. Its primary goal is to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed decisions regarding water safety, particularly during the summer months.
Learn to Swim is a National Framework committed to creating supportive and quality environments in which children can learn to swim regardless of their age, ability, or skill level. It aims to develop competent swimmers, as well as encouraging youngsters to adopt a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle with sport and fun at its heart.
For more information on the Learn to Swim programme, visit:
