‘Systemic problem’: Funding shortfall a nationwide issue

Dundee City Council spends just one penny per person helping community councils each year, it has been revealed.

That means the authority spends the least of any in Scotland on local democracy.

Fife spends 19p per head, while the figure for Angus is 18p. That puts both near the top of the Scottish league table. Perth and Kinross council spends 8p, according to figures obtained by Portobello community councillor Lee Kindness.

He, like virtually all community councillors in Scotland, is a volunteer and compiled the data from multiple freedom of information requests, which were then published by The Ferret news website.

Mr Kindness said the costs of running a community council include hall rental, consultation software, insurance and registration fees with bodies such as the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.

He said: “There is a structural deficit of £140 per year, and only a generous donation from a local business has kept (my) community council solvent.”

There is currently no national body that represents community councils in Scotland.

A planning bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament includes proposals that community councils could play a role in developing “local place plans” to guide development in their area.

MSPs have, however, been told there are no proposals to provide guaranteed additional resources to community councils to carry out this work in the planned new system.

In England, where local authorities are already encouraged to work with local communities to develop similar “neighbourhood plans”, councils are given £20,000 to fund the development work.

Alexandra Ruswick, director of Unlock Democracy, said the underfunding of local democratic institutions is part of a UK-wide trend.

She said: “It would be a mistake to look at what has been exposed about community councils in isolation. Far from being an isolated incident, this is part of a wider trend.

“All across the UK we are seeing a systematic diminution of local democracy. Democratic institutions that should enable people to have power over what happens in their communities are being eroded.

“We need to wake up to the fact that what community councils in Scotland are facing is a systemic problem, and tinkering with a system that is fundamentally broken won’t solve the issue.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Local authorities are responsible for establishing community councils and for outlining arrangements including elections, meetings, boundaries and finance. Along with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), we are committed to exploring how more decisions affecting people’s lives can be taken locally.”

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The council regularly consults with community councils, providing presentations and support to enable them to respond to consultations. We are committed to supporting our communities to do things for themselves, and to make their voices heard in the planning and delivery of services.

“An initial annual administrative grant is provided to community councils to assist with the operating costs. The grant is fixed at a minimum rate of £330 with an additional minimal 1.2p per head of population. Thereafter, each community council has the power to secure additional resources for schemes, projects and all other purposes consistent with its functions.”

Democratic institutions that should enable people to have power over what happens in their communities are being eroded.

ALEXANDRA RUSWICK, DIRECTOR OF UNLOCK DEMOCRACY