National Policy Resources

Local Government Concordat
The Strategic Concordat sets out the terms of a new relationship between the Scottish Government and local government, based on mutual respect and partnership. The Concordat underpins the funding to be provided to local government from 2008-11 and introduces Single Outcome Agreements.

Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) information and relevant documents

Glasgows Single Outcome Agreement
Glasgow SOA Summary
Glasgows SOA priorities

Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan 2008 - 2011
The Action Plan forms part of the Scottish Government's wider support for the third sector, at all levels of its development.

This three-year action plan is intended to invest in the capability and capacity of the Third sector and to help forge new relationships.

The Scottish Government anticipates a number of actions in the plan to become part of the mainstream by 2011. The key priority is around investing in the third sector now, to provide long-term benefits which will lead to sustainability.

Principles and Standards of Citizen Leadership by the Changing Lives User and Carer Forum.
The report also includes - What is Citizen Leadership? A Report by the User and Carer Panel of the 21st Century Social Work Review.

Procurement Scotland
The Public Procurement Reform Programme (PPRP) was initiated as a result of McClelland's Review of Public Procurement in Scotland. The PPRP aims to drive up standards in the way the public sector procures goods and services to ensure that tax payers' money is spent as wisely as possible.

Community Empowerment Action Plan
COSLA and Scottish Government have, through the Community Empowerment Action Plan, have pledged to increase the involvement of residents in local decision making.

In April 2008, the Scottish Government and COSLA announced a joint statement of commitment to community empowerment. It sets Government at national and local level on a long term path to make sure that more communities become more empowered across the country.

This Action Plan builds on that statement and provides clarity on what community empowerment is, why it is important and how communities become empowered. It also sets out a range of new and existing practical actions which underpin the process of community empowerment.

Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003
Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 was developed to enable the delivery of public services which better meet the expectations of those who pay for and use them.

The Act contains provisions in relation to:

• best value within local authorities;
• local authority trading powers;
• the Community Planning process;
• the promotion and improvement of well-being;
• and certain miscellaneous provisions concerned with local government.

The provisions in the Act will in the main impact most directly on local authorities but particular aspects of the Act also relate to certain other public

National Standards for Community Engagement
The National Standards for Community Engagement set out best practice guidance for community engagement between communities  and public agencies to ensure that Glasgow's Single Outcome Agreement reflects the needs of local communities in the city. The Standards were updated and simplified in May 2010. 

National Conversation: Choosing Scotland's Future - Have your say!
The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a Referendum Bill in 2010, offering the options of enhanced devolution and independence. But it will be the people of Scotland who decide Scotland's constitutional future.

You can add your voice to the National Conversation here or pick up on points made by others.

The Scottish Policy Innovation Forum
The Forum is a network of academics and individuals from the public, private and voluntary sectors. Its purpose is to foster better and more meaningful dialogue between academics and policymakers, with a view to ensuring that public policy is better informed by research.

Volunteering Information?
This survey was conducted by Kate Spence of Strathclyde University. Her research examines the use of Freedom of Information 
laws by the Third Sector in Scotland.

Caring Together: The Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010 – 2015
The Scottish Government has published the Carers Strategy for Scotland for the next five years.

Good Practice: Carers and Young Carers Stories: Caring Together and Getting it Right for Young Carers: The Carers and Young Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010-2015
This compendium of good practice and carers and young carers stories, accompanies Caring Together and Getting it Right for Young Carers.

The Big Society
Read SCVO's response to the Big Society

Scotland's Independent Budget Review
The report of Scotland's Independent Budget Review was published in July 2010. Click on the above report to read the review.
Read SCVO's response here