Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015
Dates
Act of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Long title	An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about national outcomes; to confer functions on certain persons in relation to services provided by, and assets of, certain public bodies; to amend Parts 2 and 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; to enable certain bodies to buy abandoned, neglected or detrimental land; to amend section 7C of the Forestry Act 1967; to enable the Scottish Ministers to make provision about supporters’ involvement in and ownership of football clubs; to make provision for registers of common good property and about disposal and use of such property; to restate and amend the law on allotments; to enable participation in decision-making by specified persons having public functions; to enable local authorities to reduce or remit non-domestic rates; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2015 asp 6
Introduced by	John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy
Territorial extent	Scotland
Royal assent	24 July 2015
Commencement	15 April 2016
Other legislation
Relates to	Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 is a special law passed by the Scottish Parliament. This law is important because it gives more power to local communities. It helps people have a bigger say in what happens in their areas.

One key part of the Act is that it makes it easier for communities to buy land. This includes land in towns and cities. It also gives the Scottish Ministers (government leaders) new powers. They can make owners sell land that is empty or not looked after to community groups. This helps communities use land for good purposes.

What Does the Act Do?
- How Does the Act Help Communities?
See also

What Does the Act Do?

The Community Empowerment Act has eleven main parts. Each part focuses on different ways to help communities. They also help people get involved in planning and making decisions.

How Does the Act Help Communities?

Part 1: National Goals for Scotland

This part says that the Scottish Government must set goals for the whole country. These are called "national outcomes." Public groups and organizations should think about these goals when they do their work. The government also has to report on how well they are doing. They must check these goals at least every five years.

Part 2: Planning for Your Community

This part creates official groups called "Community Planning Partnerships." These groups must work with local people. They need to help achieve local goals. They also have to make special "locality plans" for areas that need more help.

Part 3: Asking to Get Involved

This part lets community groups ask to be part of local services. This helps improve things in their area. Sometimes, community groups can even take over running these services themselves.

Part 4: Communities Buying Land

This is a big part of the Act. It builds on an older law, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Now, communities of any size can register their interest in land. This means if the land goes up for sale, the community gets the first chance to buy it. This is called the "Community Right to Buy."

The Act also lets communities buy land that is empty, neglected, or causing problems. If the land is not being used well, Scottish Ministers can make the owner sell it. This helps communities use the land for good local projects.

Part 5: Asking for Public Buildings and Land

This part gives community groups the right to ask for land and buildings owned by public bodies. These bodies include local councils and the Scottish Government. Communities can ask to buy, rent, manage, or use these properties. Public bodies must keep a list of all their land and buildings. They should usually agree to these requests unless there's a very good reason not to. This helps reduce unfairness in communities.

Part 6: Getting Involved with Forests

This part allows different community groups to be involved in managing forests. They can also ask to take over parts of Scotland's national forests.

Part 7: Helping Football Clubs

This part gives the Scottish Ministers power to make rules about football clubs. These rules can help fans get more involved in decisions about their clubs. It might even help fans have a say in who owns the club.

Part 8: Common Good Property

This part makes local councils keep a list of all "common good property" they own. This is property that belongs to the community. Councils must also talk to community groups before selling or changing how this property is used.

Part 9: Allotments for Growing Food

This part updates the rules about allotments. Allotments are small plots of land where people can grow their own food. Councils must try to provide allotments if many people are waiting for them. The Act also protects allotments more strongly.

Allotments can be 250 square metres.
Tenants can sell extra produce they grow, as long as they don't make a profit.
Councils must create a plan for growing food in their area. This includes finding land for allotments and other community growing spaces.

Part 10: Getting Involved in Public Decisions

This part gives Ministers power to make public authorities involve people more. This means authorities must help people take part in decisions. This includes how money is spent.

Part 11: Local Business Rates Help

This part lets local councils create their own ways to help businesses with their rates. This is in addition to help from the national government.

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 facts for kids

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