Equity in the democratic experience

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.

Therefore, fundamental baseline improvements in how communities increase their influence over decisions which affect their lives must be applied universally and be described clearly in legislation to ensure equality of opportunities to improve empowerment across Scotland.

Communities need to be able to determine for themselves how much, or how little, democratic influence or control they want, and this may involve local processes like ballots, citizens assemblies or deliberative conferences. Additional democratic innovation should then be possible.

This will require local community anchor structures committed to effectiveness, accountability and being fully representative. Achieving this without access to trusted community development support will be difficult for many communities, especially those experiencing disadvantage and inequality. Where and how this is provided will therefore have a major impact on success generally.

In particular, it will impact on the extent to which some communities are able to overcome local factors to develop more of the knowledge and skills needed to ensure access to the benefits of localised democratic control.

Contents

• DM2 response home

• Context and ambition

• The existing policy context

• Core principles

• New powers

• Representativeness and accountability

• Support for Communities

• Conclusion & next steps