C.O.A.S.T. chairman Howard Wood explains why Scottish politics must harness the strength of local communities...

There was much talk in the run-up to the 2007 Holyood elections of implementing a more radical 'internal' devolution in Scotland. John Swinney described the ‘renaissance of local control’ as a central theme of the SNP’s manifesto ‘to give local communities more say over the issues that affect them and to ensure that there is less direction from the centre.’ The SNP's aim to decentralise and curb the burgeoning quango state is a policy which has since been effectively echoed south of the border by the Tories' buzz-phrase of Big Society.

We have wondered what exactly it will mean for the small stakeholders who work independent of large government financial support. In theory it is a grand idea, but it is of course politically motivated. Community organisations cannot underake this renaissance of local control UNLESS they have valid channels of communication with those who make the decisions for the country as a whole. Similarly the power bases of politics and their cohorts need to become much more accountable to communities than they are at present. We shall see what it means in practice over the next five years. In the worst case it might simply mean outsourcing existing government supplied services to local voluntary organisations.

Without changes in the law - which after all are made by consent within the political parties in power - the Big Society cannot be separated from the politicians. We continue to need that legal framework and the regulations that stem from it in a civil society. It is imperative however that politicians take more responsibility and LISTEN to communities, not just run a few focus groups or public consultations and then do what they want. As C.O.A.S.T. was told recently, which came as a surprise to us, the Scottish government does not have to take any notice of the wishes of the people when they conduct a consultation: at least that was the view of one senior individual  That is why when 675 community members and other parties responded to the government consultation on the No Take Zone, the majority also said they were in favour of a Marine Protected Area in the remaining part of Lamlash Bay, and only 5 were opposed; less than 1%. The government chose to ignore the wishes of the majority of the 675; the community still waits for action on the Marine Protected Area, 2 years later.

Previous and present channels of communication are aligned to the political establishment, so whilst communications may be improved and they “listen” it does not necessarily change their view. If the Big Society is going to work what is clearly required is leadership that adopts a strategy and vision and which is not stuck in the past and seeking to maintain the status quo. Disillusioned community groups, mostly run by unpaid volunteers, see the lip service paid to consultation. For C.O.A.S.T. the example of the Clyde SSMEI stands out. No one came to talk to people on Arran, even though this is the largest island in the Clyde, so the Draft report was full of inaccuracies about the island. The major players, all part of Scotland’s Establishment, were consulted.

So what about the Big Society in Scotland?  Elections take place next summer for the Scottish Parliament. Will those standing talk to coastal communities who have watched the decimation of fish stocks through overfishing and damage to the seabed and sensitive habitats through scallop dredging and Nephrops trawling? The Clyde is almost a marine desert and has been so for years. Will the Scottish government continue to protect the dwindling band of fishermen even though it is clear that even the depleted industry is not sustainable? Will it continue to financially support MSC Blue label assessment for clearly unsustainable fishing methods? Will it plough enormous amounts of tax payers’ money into the aquaculture industry, which is damaging wild salmon stocks and the benthos of the sea bed with no pollution control or chemical containment?  Communities can ask awkward questions, as they have over years, but the status quo continues. Although the power base of lobbyists is small in numbers, in and around the Scottish Parliament, it has enormous lobbying power. NGOs are seduced by money from government and cease to exhibit an independent voice. For the Big Society to work that power base needs to be diluted , made more accountable, to let in the light so to speak and bring Scotland’s people into decision making of real value, and not just pretence at consultations.

Big Society initiatives, if conducted in a genuine spirit of dialogue and openness, could actually raise the profile of our politicians and political parties in power AND reduce costs to the taxpayer as well as getting communities to take responsibility for reaching desired aims and goals.  We will continue to campaign for the opportunity.