3.The Scottish Government has embraced the internationally recognised community wealth building (CWB) approach to economic development as a means by which progress can be made towards realising the Wellbeing Economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET)(1), and the Scottish Government’s economic policy aims generally. CWB acts as a strategic framework to build on policy actions already underway in Scotland, including in Fair Work, Sustainable Procurement, Community Empowerment and asset transfer. The Act aims to create a statutory framework to unite these actions and ensure consistent implementation of the CWB model of economic development across Scotland by public sector anchor organisations.
4.The Act makes provision for CWB in three ways: it places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to produce and publish a CWB statement setting out measures to be taken by the Scottish Government in relation to CWB; it requires local authorities, acting with certain public bodies within the local authority area, to produce CWB action plans setting out the measures to be taken within the local authority area in relation to CWB and to implement those plans so far as reasonably practicable; and finally it places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to produce guidance in relation to both the production of action plans and the inclusion of CWB measures in strategic planning by public bodies.
The Act Overview