What is an Island Communities Impact Assessment?
Everything that the council does affects people in Argyll and Bute. Some decisions can have different effects on different groups or geographic locations in the community. This can make it harder for some people to use a service or to be part of their community.
Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIAs) are designed to improve outcomes for our island communities in meaningful ways and are a legal requirement.
When a new strategy, policy or service is being developed, the council can look at the needs of different island communities through an ICIA and consider how the proposal will affect them. The council can then think about ways to reduce any negative impacts so that everyone will be able to benefit from the proposal and improve outcomes for island communities.
Legal Requirements
The council, as one of the relevant authorities listed in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, must have regard to island communities in carrying out its functions. The council must prepare an ICIA in relation to a policy, strategy or service, which is likely to have an effect on an island community, which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).
It is expected that the council will make arrangements to review any policy, strategy or service and prepare an ICIA, where it is required to do so.
Once prepared, an Island Communities Impact Assessment will be published by the Council. This will include information about decisions not to carry out an Island Communities Impact Assessment. The council must publish, at least annually, information about the steps it has taken to comply with the duty.
Review
In certain circumstances, an applicant can request a review of a decision, where they can demonstrate that they have been directly affected (or likely to be directly affected) by a policy, strategy or service.
Applications for a review of a decision relating to an Island Communities Impact Assessment must be:
- Made within the period of 3 months beginning with the publication date of the decision
- Be in the appropriate form
- Include any information required in the relevant Regulations.
Within 10 working days after receiving an application for review, the Council must send a written acknowledgement to the applicant.
The council has six months to make a decision on the application for review. The applicant will be issued with a notification of the decision which will also be published on this Section of the website.
You can contact us with any enquiries about an Island Communities Impact Assessment prepared by the council or to submit an application for review of a decision relating to an Island Communities Impact Assessment.
ICIA Review 001/2022
Further Information from Applicant
Validation Notice Regulation 6
Preparation of Island Communities Impact Assessment by Ministers
The council may make a request to the Scottish Ministers to prepare and publish a retrospective ICIA in relation to existing legislation or national strategies, which have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from their effect on other communities (including other island communities) in Scotland.
An individual, group or organisation can make a request for a retrospective ICIA to the council.
The individual, group or organisation should provide sufficient information to support such a request, explaining why the legislation has an effect on an island community, which is significantly different from their effect on other communities in Scotland.
The council will consider whether that information supports the request for a retrospective ICIA to Scottish Ministers before either making a request, or informing the requester of the reasons for not doing so.
Following receipt of a request, the Scottish Ministers must, within 3 months, confirm in writing their approval of the request, or their reasons for not approving the request. If the request is approved, the Scottish Ministers must prepare and publish a retrospective ICIA within 6 months of the date of their decision.
You can find out more about Island Communities Impact Assessments on the Scottish Government’s website.