Community planning: right sentiments, wrong approach

Abstract

First paragraph: The Scottish Executive is determined to reform the way local government works. Government is keen to ensure that local councils and the statutory public bodies they work with better co-ordinate their activities. This is popularly articulated by Government through its use of the term 'promoting joined-up government' (Lloyd 1997). Ensuring better co-ordination, and thus achieving greater financial efficiency, is, however, only one dimension of this policy ambition. Government is also keen to ensure that local government engages with the 'community' itself in developing the policies which will affect them. This element of policy is seen to be one part of a wider drive to secure the democratic renewal of Scotland. To achieve both these ends, Government has promoted and encouraged the development of a new planning tool for local government, namely Community Planning.