SCDC Consultation Response
Core principles
We have based our thinking on six key principles which we think will enable community involvement in local decision making to take place.
These principles could form the foundation for potential legislation that may be required in the future. Though the potential legislation has yet to be named we refer to in this response it as a Local Democracy Bill in our response.
Read more detail about the principles below.
Although post Democracy Matters local arrangements might vary in different locations according to communities' own aspirations and other local factors, it should not be a postcode lottery.
DM2 must include clear outcomes that increase influence, not just ownership, over public and other services in line with place-based community aspirations and rights.
It’s vital we see engagement of local people in what constitutes a community to help decentralise power and work effectively.
Democratic renewal can best be achieved if it is underpinned by other important relationships and dialogues.
A careful deliberative process is needed to further develop the ideas emerging from DM2 to stress test these and consider the opportunities and trade-offs involved to ensure change is deliverable.
Communities operating in a decentralised context will also need access to support and resources in a form that they can use.