There did not seem to be much support from area representatives and Board members for the ideas put forward in my paper as a result of my experiences in the Edinburgh area elections for area representative in April 2010 when it was recently discussed at a national meeting.
For a full account of my proposals see the posting of 15 April 2010 below.
There seemed to be an agreement that the ASCC constitution should be posted on the website but there is no sign of it as of 20 July 2010.
It is hard to understand why the constitution should not be posted on the website and be readily available this way to ASCC members and any interested members of the public.
Similarly information about who is an area representative and how to contact them ought to be readily available on the website to assist member community councils.
I continue to watch and pressure for signs of progress on these matters.
Let me know your views. Email me at norman.bonney@Blueyonder.co.uk and let me know which community council you are a member of, if any.
Thanks
Showing posts with label Association of Scottish Community Councils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Association of Scottish Community Councils. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Lothians Region Meeting of ASCC Livingston 14 August 2010
Please forward this to all your community council members
Dear Colleague
According to its constitution every two years the Association of Scottish Community Councils has to hold a meeting in each region of the country.
The next meeting for the Lothians area will be held on Saturday 14 August 2010 at Howden Park Centre in Livingston from 1000am.
Further information should be forthcoming from ASCC national officers shortly. This message is to give you advance warning of the event which has no admission charge.
There will be a panel of MSPs with whom you can raise matters that concern your community council.
There will also be an opportunity to meet with national officers to discuss matters concerning the ASCC
You should find this a useful meeting and I hope that you can attend.
For directions about how to reach the venue visit www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk/visit
Norman Bonney
Edinburgh Area representative ASCC and member, Edinburgh West End Community Council
ASCC website www.ascc.org.uk
My blog www.normanbonneyoncommunitycouncils.blogspot.com
My email norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk
Dear Colleague
According to its constitution every two years the Association of Scottish Community Councils has to hold a meeting in each region of the country.
The next meeting for the Lothians area will be held on Saturday 14 August 2010 at Howden Park Centre in Livingston from 1000am.
Further information should be forthcoming from ASCC national officers shortly. This message is to give you advance warning of the event which has no admission charge.
There will be a panel of MSPs with whom you can raise matters that concern your community council.
There will also be an opportunity to meet with national officers to discuss matters concerning the ASCC
You should find this a useful meeting and I hope that you can attend.
For directions about how to reach the venue visit www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk/visit
Norman Bonney
Edinburgh Area representative ASCC and member, Edinburgh West End Community Council
ASCC website www.ascc.org.uk
My blog www.normanbonneyoncommunitycouncils.blogspot.com
My email norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Recommendations to the ASCC Board on 17 April 2010
a. A set of election rules should be developed for elections of area representatives and national officers.
b. The single transferable vote system should be used for elections where there are more than two candidates.
c. Election results should be subject to a verification process specified in the rules for elections.
d. A copy of the constitution should be placed on the ASCC website.
e. E-mail addresses of all area representatives (or other information about how to contact them) should be placed on the website.
f. Board members should ensure that ASCC members have the opportunity to choose between competing candidates to fill the posts of national officers in the annual elections.
g. Current vacancies in area representative positions should be filled expeditiously.
h. The constitution of ASCC should be reviewed to ensure that there are annual contested elections for national officer positions and that all area representatives become Board members.
i. Regional meetings should be held in all regional areas in the course of each year.
Norman Bonney e-mail norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk 13 April 2010
b. The single transferable vote system should be used for elections where there are more than two candidates.
c. Election results should be subject to a verification process specified in the rules for elections.
d. A copy of the constitution should be placed on the ASCC website.
e. E-mail addresses of all area representatives (or other information about how to contact them) should be placed on the website.
f. Board members should ensure that ASCC members have the opportunity to choose between competing candidates to fill the posts of national officers in the annual elections.
g. Current vacancies in area representative positions should be filled expeditiously.
h. The constitution of ASCC should be reviewed to ensure that there are annual contested elections for national officer positions and that all area representatives become Board members.
i. Regional meetings should be held in all regional areas in the course of each year.
Norman Bonney e-mail norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk 13 April 2010
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Message to community councillors in Edinburgh
Colleague Community Councillors
I am pleased to have been elected as area representative for Edinburgh Community Councils on the Association of Scottish Community Councils and I thank those who supported me, particularly Graham Dane of Currie Community Council who withdrew from the race and backed my campaign.
The campaign has indicated to me that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the city community councils with the operation of the Association of Scottish Community Councils. With your suppport I shall be attempting to make the organisation more accountable and transparent.
I wish to compliment my opponents, Terry Tweed and Norman Tinlin, for fighting a good campaign.
Some of the discussion around this election has demonstrated that ASCC needs to improve its election procedure. The introduction of a single transferable vote system for area representatives is needed to strengthen the mandate of those elected. A clear set of election rules need to be formulated. The voting procedure is like an American presidential nominating convention in that each community council must cast a vote for a candidate in public as part of its public proceedings. This means that results can be easily verified and ASCC needs to be organised to enable verification speedily to any interested person.
It was made clear to me in the campaign that ASCC also needs to be much more open in constitutional matters. The constitution should be readily available on the website as should the names and email addresses of all the area representatives across Scotland. There should not be administrative impediments requiring community councils to formally request this information of the National Secretary.
ASCC should be a members' organisation not a national officers' organisation.
Best wishes to you all in the good work that you do on behalf of your communities.I look forward to working with you.
Norman Bonney
Member, Edinburgh West End Community Council
I am pleased to have been elected as area representative for Edinburgh Community Councils on the Association of Scottish Community Councils and I thank those who supported me, particularly Graham Dane of Currie Community Council who withdrew from the race and backed my campaign.
The campaign has indicated to me that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the city community councils with the operation of the Association of Scottish Community Councils. With your suppport I shall be attempting to make the organisation more accountable and transparent.
I wish to compliment my opponents, Terry Tweed and Norman Tinlin, for fighting a good campaign.
Some of the discussion around this election has demonstrated that ASCC needs to improve its election procedure. The introduction of a single transferable vote system for area representatives is needed to strengthen the mandate of those elected. A clear set of election rules need to be formulated. The voting procedure is like an American presidential nominating convention in that each community council must cast a vote for a candidate in public as part of its public proceedings. This means that results can be easily verified and ASCC needs to be organised to enable verification speedily to any interested person.
It was made clear to me in the campaign that ASCC also needs to be much more open in constitutional matters. The constitution should be readily available on the website as should the names and email addresses of all the area representatives across Scotland. There should not be administrative impediments requiring community councils to formally request this information of the National Secretary.
ASCC should be a members' organisation not a national officers' organisation.
Best wishes to you all in the good work that you do on behalf of your communities.I look forward to working with you.
Norman Bonney
Member, Edinburgh West End Community Council
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Manifesto for election as ASCC Edinburgh Area Representative
Election of an ASCC Area Representative for the City of Edinburgh, February 2010
Nomination Statement by Norman Bonney, Member, Edinburgh West End Community Council.
The opportunity to return to ASCC national business as the elected representative for City of Edinburgh community councils provides an occasion to promote major changes to the way in which ASCC operates.
In my previous period of service with ASCC I assisted in shaping the constitution under which ASCC now operates. ASCC is now a much stronger and more effective organisation than it was prior to these changes but it is clear from personal observations and feedback from members that more could be done to improve the transparency and accountability of its operations.
Two annual rounds of elections for national officers under the new arrangements have demonstrated a reluctance among Board members to nominate more than one candidate for each position of national officer. This means that member community councils only have the option of approving or rejecting one candidate for each of the positions of National President, National Vice-President, National Secretary and National Treasurer when they are nominated by the Executive members.
Further it is difficult for members to discover how ASCC operates. On 21 January and 10 February 2010, for instance, it was not possible to find the constitution of ASCC on the website. There have to be improvements for member community councils in the accessibility of basic information such as this.
If elected as your representative I would seek, in consultation with other community council representatives across Scotland, to amend the constitution and working practises of ASCC so that;
· Candidates for the offices of National President, National Vice-President, National Secretary, and National Treasurer can be nominated and elected directly by member community councils.
· Executive and Board members are elected by member community councils in each region.
· That key documents such as the constitution of ASCC should be readily available on the ASCC website.
· That regional meetings of the ASCC shall be held annually in all regions to improve communication between members and the national officers, Board members and area representatives.
· Finally, if elected I will meet at least twice a year with the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils, and with individual community councils if they so wish, to keep in touch with local concerns and to report on the work of the ASCC.
Norman Bonney
Member, West End Edinburgh Community Council.
Email; norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.normanbonneyoncommunitycouncils.blogspot.com/
Nomination Statement by Norman Bonney, Member, Edinburgh West End Community Council.
The opportunity to return to ASCC national business as the elected representative for City of Edinburgh community councils provides an occasion to promote major changes to the way in which ASCC operates.
In my previous period of service with ASCC I assisted in shaping the constitution under which ASCC now operates. ASCC is now a much stronger and more effective organisation than it was prior to these changes but it is clear from personal observations and feedback from members that more could be done to improve the transparency and accountability of its operations.
Two annual rounds of elections for national officers under the new arrangements have demonstrated a reluctance among Board members to nominate more than one candidate for each position of national officer. This means that member community councils only have the option of approving or rejecting one candidate for each of the positions of National President, National Vice-President, National Secretary and National Treasurer when they are nominated by the Executive members.
Further it is difficult for members to discover how ASCC operates. On 21 January and 10 February 2010, for instance, it was not possible to find the constitution of ASCC on the website. There have to be improvements for member community councils in the accessibility of basic information such as this.
If elected as your representative I would seek, in consultation with other community council representatives across Scotland, to amend the constitution and working practises of ASCC so that;
· Candidates for the offices of National President, National Vice-President, National Secretary, and National Treasurer can be nominated and elected directly by member community councils.
· Executive and Board members are elected by member community councils in each region.
· That key documents such as the constitution of ASCC should be readily available on the ASCC website.
· That regional meetings of the ASCC shall be held annually in all regions to improve communication between members and the national officers, Board members and area representatives.
· Finally, if elected I will meet at least twice a year with the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils, and with individual community councils if they so wish, to keep in touch with local concerns and to report on the work of the ASCC.
Norman Bonney
Member, West End Edinburgh Community Council.
Email; norman.bonney@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.normanbonneyoncommunitycouncils.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Devolution beginning to deliver for local communities
Second round of evidence to the Calman Commission on Devolution - February 2009
ASCC's previous evidence to the Commission pointed out that there had been little positive response by the devolved institutions (the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive/Government) to the interests and potentiality of Scotland's community councils.
ASCC can now however report signs of a more positive attitude being forthcoming as a result of its campaigns.
The Scottish Executive/Government has now increased the grant to ASCC so that it can appoint a National Development Officer to support its work in promoting and developing community councils across Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Executive/Government have reached agreement with ASCC on a national model scheme for community councils which will be promoted around the country.
These are the most positive steps in relation to Scotland's community councils for over a decade. ASCC will continue its efforts to widen appreciation of the roles and potential of community councils as a means to encourage grass roots citizen participation in local governance.
Four of the main Scottish political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament have manifesto commitments relating to community councils and ASCC will continue to encourage them to deliver them. Given the party political situation in the Scottish Parliament it ought to be possible for all parties, as well as the administration, to progress their 2007 election manifesto policies in relation to community councils.
ASCC will also encourage other parties to begin to support the strengthening of community councils.
ASCC is pleased to report that devolution is beginning to deliver for the grass roots in ways which have been previously lacking and would encourage the Commission to express its support for the de-concentration of power from the Scottish centre and for its continuing devolution to local communities through the mechanism of community councils.
Norman Bonney
National Vice-President, Association of Scottish Community Councils, 25 February 2009
www.ascc.org.uk
For more on community councils visit;
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CommunityCouncils
ASCC's previous evidence to the Commission pointed out that there had been little positive response by the devolved institutions (the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive/Government) to the interests and potentiality of Scotland's community councils.
ASCC can now however report signs of a more positive attitude being forthcoming as a result of its campaigns.
The Scottish Executive/Government has now increased the grant to ASCC so that it can appoint a National Development Officer to support its work in promoting and developing community councils across Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Executive/Government have reached agreement with ASCC on a national model scheme for community councils which will be promoted around the country.
These are the most positive steps in relation to Scotland's community councils for over a decade. ASCC will continue its efforts to widen appreciation of the roles and potential of community councils as a means to encourage grass roots citizen participation in local governance.
Four of the main Scottish political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament have manifesto commitments relating to community councils and ASCC will continue to encourage them to deliver them. Given the party political situation in the Scottish Parliament it ought to be possible for all parties, as well as the administration, to progress their 2007 election manifesto policies in relation to community councils.
ASCC will also encourage other parties to begin to support the strengthening of community councils.
ASCC is pleased to report that devolution is beginning to deliver for the grass roots in ways which have been previously lacking and would encourage the Commission to express its support for the de-concentration of power from the Scottish centre and for its continuing devolution to local communities through the mechanism of community councils.
Norman Bonney
National Vice-President, Association of Scottish Community Councils, 25 February 2009
www.ascc.org.uk
For more on community councils visit;
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CommunityCouncils
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Turn of the tide for Scotland's community councils?
Scotland's community councils have had an uphill struggle to convince Scotland's governments and local authorities that they are a valuable device for harnessing citizen input into the local governance process and that they deserve full encouragement and support.
There are signs that the campaign of the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) to encourage the Scottish Government to provide it with more support in order to encourage the further development of community councils is beginning to pay off. ASCC is now in a position to recruit a National Development Officer. If you interested in the appointment visit;
http://www.goodmoves.org.uk/
This move is a direct result of the greater responsiveness of the SNP Scottish Government to the case put to them by ASCC. The SNP had ambitious aims for community councils in its 2007 elections manifesto and it is beginning to implement them.
The other Scottish political parties, with one exception, also made election commitments to community councils in 2007. They should not let one party steal a march with its support for community councils. It will be interesting to see how the other political parties make evident their support for community councils in the two years ahead to the next Scottish Parliament elections.
There are signs that the campaign of the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) to encourage the Scottish Government to provide it with more support in order to encourage the further development of community councils is beginning to pay off. ASCC is now in a position to recruit a National Development Officer. If you interested in the appointment visit;
http://www.goodmoves.org.uk/
This move is a direct result of the greater responsiveness of the SNP Scottish Government to the case put to them by ASCC. The SNP had ambitious aims for community councils in its 2007 elections manifesto and it is beginning to implement them.
The other Scottish political parties, with one exception, also made election commitments to community councils in 2007. They should not let one party steal a march with its support for community councils. It will be interesting to see how the other political parties make evident their support for community councils in the two years ahead to the next Scottish Parliament elections.
Friday, 30 May 2008
ASCC Executive Document on the Concordat April 2008
Association of Scottish Community Councils
The Concordat between Scottish Local Government and the Scottish Executive Government
The ASCC as the representative organisation of Scotland’s 1200 community councils can assist Scottish local authorities and the Scottish Executive Government to implement their Concordat and National Outcomes and locally community councils can assist local authorities and their community planning partners to implement their single outcome agreements.
ASCC notes that the agreement includes community planning partners and the Third Sector and that community involvement is key for each local authority community plan.
National Outcomes
Community councils bring together local citizens to assess the quality of, and help to improve, neighbourhood public services. There are about 1,200 community councils
(an average figure of 37 in each local authority area) and 12,000 community councillors in Scotland and they cover about 80% of the communities of Scotland. They can contribute in many ways to all of the intended National Outcomes but particularly the following;
9 We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
10 We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need.
11. We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
12 We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations.
14 We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production.
15. Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people’s needs.
National Indicators and Targets
Community councils can assist in achieving some of the national indicators and targets such as;
13 Increase the turnover of the social economy
28 Increase the percentage of adults who rate their neighbourhood as a good place to live
31. Increase positive public perception of the general crime rate in local area
32. Reduce overall ecological footprint
33. Increase to 95% the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition
34 Improve the state of Scotland’s Historic Buildings, monuments and environment
43 Improve people’s perceptions of the quality of public services delivered
Local Outcome Agreements
ASCC notes that each local authority single outcome agreement is developed in conjunction with its community planning partners. Community councils are a key voice of local communities within a local authority area and can thus assist the local authority and its partners in achieving their objectives.
Menu of local indicators
1. Business community satisfaction with the local area
12 . Number of people with mental ill health relative to the Scottish average
(volunteering is known to contribute to mental well being)
28. The percentage of adult residents stating fear of crime is having a moderate or great effect on the quality of life
30. The percentage of residents stating they are satisfied with their neighbourhood
31. The incidences of vandalism, malicious damage or malicious mischief
32. The number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents
45. Increase the proportion of municipal waste recycled
46 . Council area’s carbon/ ecological footprint
52 The number, quality and variety of affordable homes
Conclusion
ASCC is minded to engage with COSLA and the Scottish Government to ensure that community councils can nationally make their contribution to the implementation of the national concordat between those two bodies.
At local authority level community councils are to some extent active, and in many cases could potentially become much more active, in assisting local authorities and their other community planning partners in achieving the implementation of local single outcome agreements.
Norman Bonney
Vice-President, Association of Scottish Community Councils
e-mail; activecitizen22@gmail.com
26.3.08
The Concordat between Scottish Local Government and the Scottish Executive Government
The ASCC as the representative organisation of Scotland’s 1200 community councils can assist Scottish local authorities and the Scottish Executive Government to implement their Concordat and National Outcomes and locally community councils can assist local authorities and their community planning partners to implement their single outcome agreements.
ASCC notes that the agreement includes community planning partners and the Third Sector and that community involvement is key for each local authority community plan.
National Outcomes
Community councils bring together local citizens to assess the quality of, and help to improve, neighbourhood public services. There are about 1,200 community councils
(an average figure of 37 in each local authority area) and 12,000 community councillors in Scotland and they cover about 80% of the communities of Scotland. They can contribute in many ways to all of the intended National Outcomes but particularly the following;
9 We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
10 We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need.
11. We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
12 We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations.
14 We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production.
15. Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people’s needs.
National Indicators and Targets
Community councils can assist in achieving some of the national indicators and targets such as;
13 Increase the turnover of the social economy
28 Increase the percentage of adults who rate their neighbourhood as a good place to live
31. Increase positive public perception of the general crime rate in local area
32. Reduce overall ecological footprint
33. Increase to 95% the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition
34 Improve the state of Scotland’s Historic Buildings, monuments and environment
43 Improve people’s perceptions of the quality of public services delivered
Local Outcome Agreements
ASCC notes that each local authority single outcome agreement is developed in conjunction with its community planning partners. Community councils are a key voice of local communities within a local authority area and can thus assist the local authority and its partners in achieving their objectives.
Menu of local indicators
1. Business community satisfaction with the local area
12 . Number of people with mental ill health relative to the Scottish average
(volunteering is known to contribute to mental well being)
28. The percentage of adult residents stating fear of crime is having a moderate or great effect on the quality of life
30. The percentage of residents stating they are satisfied with their neighbourhood
31. The incidences of vandalism, malicious damage or malicious mischief
32. The number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents
45. Increase the proportion of municipal waste recycled
46 . Council area’s carbon/ ecological footprint
52 The number, quality and variety of affordable homes
Conclusion
ASCC is minded to engage with COSLA and the Scottish Government to ensure that community councils can nationally make their contribution to the implementation of the national concordat between those two bodies.
At local authority level community councils are to some extent active, and in many cases could potentially become much more active, in assisting local authorities and their other community planning partners in achieving the implementation of local single outcome agreements.
Norman Bonney
Vice-President, Association of Scottish Community Councils
e-mail; activecitizen22@gmail.com
26.3.08
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