The Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill promised in the SNP election manifesto does not appear in the legislative programme for the coming year. However details are starting to emerge of the consultative process that will lead to a bill. Most people would probably accept that a significant amount of time is needed to get such an innovative piece of legislation right and consult properly. If a timetable of ’18-24’months, which is we understand being talked of, were to delay action beyond the deadline for the 2012/13 programme, that would be disappointing.

However what has emerged so far suggests that the potential scope for a Bill is wide-ranging and challenging. The Scottish Government explanatory document accompanying the legislative programme says “We are also committed to developing a Bill that will make a real difference by acting as a catalyst for a wide range of community development and service improvement. We are happy to accept the Christie Commission’s recommendation to explore the potential of the Bill to improve community participation in the planning and delivery of services, and to consider how to build community capacity. We will begin a wide ranging engagement with people from the public, private and third sectors this Autumn, to ensure we hear the best ideas possible to include in the Bill. ”

Similarly the government’s response to the Christie Commission (see below) refers to “’developing a Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill that will significantly improve community participation in the design and delivery of public services, alongside action to build community capacity, recognising the particular needs of communities facing multiple social and economic challenges’.

In other words, the original intention to legislate on community land and asset acquisition has potentially been broadened considerably into new areas.