​Hi Everyone!!
  
INVITATION: Join the Scottish Forum of Community Councils, FREE MEMBERSHIP!!! 
  
The Scottish Forum of Community Councils was established 3 years ago by the Joint Board of West Lothian Community Councils. 
  
The current board consists of John Sives, Donald Stavert and Pippa Plevin. They have a deep understanding of the importance of genuine local democracy and are dedicated to bringing Scotland’s community councils together so they can support and learn from each other.   
  
Now is the perfect time for your community council to join the new Forum. The Scottish Government’s Democracy Matters team recently published a blueprint for strengthening community empowerment. Although the document is rather woolly and downplays the role of community councils (which are only mentioned 4 times in 17 pages), it does provide a starting point for further negotiations. That is why community councils need to present a united voice. 
  
The Forum has just published its latest newsletter, which is packed with useful information – Join their mailing list now!   
    
New Powers survey update – now supported by the Scottish Forum of Community Councils
  
I’m over the moon that the Scottish Forum of Community Councils is now supporting the survey, which currently has 50 participating community councils. If your community council would like to take part, just reply to this email and I will send you links to publicise locally via your mailing list, website and social media. N.B. The deadline is now extended to mid-August, so you still have time!!!!
  
Participating community councils
  
Appin
Balloch and Haldane
Banchory
Bathgate
Bo'ness
Brechin
Buckie
Burnfoot
Cambuslang
Cockenzie and Port Seton
Crathes, Drumoak and Durris
Crosshill, Straiton and Kirkmichael
Currie
Dennistoun (TBC)
Duneaton
Duror and Kentallen
East Calder
Elie and Earlsferry
Garnethill
Gourdon
Haddington
Irvin
Jackton and Thorntonhall
Kenmore and District
Kinglassie
Kirkliston
Kirknewton
Laggan
Lochbroom
Lochrutton
Menstrie
Mid Calder
Milton of Campsie
Monans and Abercrombie
Montrose
Morvern
Nairn River
New Town and Broughton
Northmaven
Overtown and Waterloo
Partick
Polmont
Prestwick
Pumpherston
Rosemount and Mile End
Springburn
Strathard
Symington
West End, Dundee
Whitburn

Cheers All,

Michael  

Michael Gallagher
New Powers for Scotland's Community Councils? (Facebook group)  
Scotland's Community Councillors Chewin' The Fat (website)
Tel 07476 494021

Hi Everyone!!!

Last month a community councillor asked me if there was an organisation behind the survey. The answer is yes and no. To begin with, it was just me (using survey software that I have used for many years). However, now there are 35 community councils promoting the survey in their local area. So, could we call this a coalition?

Ok, that’s maybe a bit of a stretch, but it raises an important question – do we need a formal coalition for Scotland’s community councils? To answer it, we need to look carefully at previous attempts to form and sustain a national coalition.

Association of Scottish Community Councils

According to Professor Google, the ASCC was formed in the late 1970s, shortly after the creation of community councils. It folded in April 2012, blaming underfunding by the Scottish Government. 

Scottish Forum of Community Councils

2 years ago, some community councillors from West Lothian tried to set up a new coalition; the Scottish Forum of Community Councils. I wrote to them a couple of times last year, in the hope that they would work with me on the survey but got no reply. Recently the Scottish Community Alliance told me “..they still exist but have temporarily paused formal activity.”

Conclusions?

Establishing and sustaining a national alliance has proved difficult, if not impossible. The reason, I believe, is that Scotland’s 1,059 community councils have zero power. Multiply zero power by 1,059 and you still have zero power.
Therefore the only rational reason to form an alliance at this stage is to gather evidence that our communities are no longer content to be the most powerless of any Western democracy. If this is indeed what the survey shows (early results indicate this) it will put us in a strong position with the Scottish Government. 

If your community council wishes to join the survey, just let me know and I will send links for you to publicise locally.

Lastly, here is the link to see the survey report from Strathard Community Council - https://reporting.alchemer.com/r/412325_69c171cc048406.59178422.

Best wishes,

Michael
​
Michael Gallagher
New Powers for Scotland's Community Councils? (Facebook group)  
Scotland's Community Councillors Chewin' The Fat (website)