So if I want to influence what Argyll and Bute Council does, is this how I should contact you?
Participation Requests don’t replace any existing ways that communities can tell us what you think and we would always encourage our communities to speak to us about anything they would like to see done differently because we might be able to resolve things quickly and easily. For example, if you have suggestions for improvements to your local school, the Parent Council would still be the most appropriate people for you to contact since we already work with them to improve outcomes.
The Participation Request process is available for communities who are looking to engage in more formal dialogue with the council and other public sector organisations to make an improvement.
There are other ways to have your say, for example, contacting your local councillor or responding to a consultation. You can find out what public consultations are currently happening across the Council area by visiting our consultations diary.
Can I use a participation request to tell the Council about something I don’t like?
Your community can submit a request to be involved in changing or improving something in the community. The request is about improvement – it might be motivated by something your group doesn’t like, but it is not a complaints process. Your community’s request should be about what improvement you would like to see, and how you can get involved to help that happen.
Who can submit a participation request?
To make a Participation Request the community organisation needs to be a “community participation body” as defined in the Act. It can either be a community controlled body, a community council, a community body without a written constitution or a body designated by the Scottish Ministers.
Requirements for a community controlled body
A community controlled body does not have to be incorporated, but must have a written constitution which must include the following:
- A definition of the community to which the body relates.
- Provision that membership of the body is open to any member of that community.
- Provision that the majority of the members of the body is to consist of members of that community.
- Provision that the members of the body who consist of members of that community have control of the body.
- A statement of the body’s aims and purposes, including the promotion of a benefit for that community.
- Provision that any surplus funds or assets of the body are to be applied for the benefit of that community.
Requirements for a community council
When making a request the community council should engage with local people in the area that could be impacted by the outcome improvement process, and think about how the proposals may affect them.
Requirements for a community controlled body without a written constitution
A community participation body could also be a more loosely associated group of people. A group must have similar features to a community controlled body but has no written constitution. It will be for the council to determine whether the group meets the requirement under the Act.
Designation
The Scottish Ministers can designate a body to be a community participation body. They will do this by making an order. Ministers can either designate an individual body, or could designate a class of bodies.
Support for communities to determine what sort of organisation they want to be is available from the council’s Community Development Team.
I’m part of a community group but we don’t all live in the same place. Would we be eligible to submit a request?
A community can cover:
- a geographical area (e.g. a housing estate, village, town, island etc)
- a group of people who have something in common (e.g. values, religion or identity)
- a group of people who come together around a common interest (e.g. fishing)
Who can I submit a participation request to?
You can submit a participation request to Argyll and Bute council here:
Send us your Participation Request
Participation Requests can also be submitted to:
- Police Scotland
- NHS Highland
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Argyll College
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- HITRANS
- Strathclyde Passenger Transport
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
A Participation Request may request that more than one public service organisation works in partnership on your community’s improvement outcome.
Is there support available to help me submit a participation request?
Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Development Team can help any community bodies in Argyll and Bute who want to submit a Participation Request to a Public Service Authority.
The Scottish Community Development Centre’s Participation Request resource pack will also help guide you through the process.
What happens if my request is refused?
Argyll and Bute Council is committed to accepting Participation Requests where possible and may contact you to discuss your request and any further information we might need, or any concerns we have about being able to accept it.
If your request is refused we will explain the reasons why. There is no right of appeal. However we will submit a report to the Scottish Government annually which will outline all requests received, the decision made, the results of any outcome improvement process, and the reasons any requests were refused.
Participation Requests and Asset Transfers
It is not recommended to run both types of request together. If you are interested in taking control of an asset to deliver your own services, and would like further support on how to do that please refer to the Asset Transfer guidance or contact communuitydevelopment@argyll-bute.gov.uk
The Scottish Government guidance on Participation Requests and Asset Transfer can be accessed here.