LET’s look beyond oil and manufacturing: Scotland’s greatest economic asset is its people.
By the time this article goes to print few, if any, of the results of this year’s local council elections will be known. If polling is to be believed, the SNP will make gains across Scotland, including taking control of my home city of Glasgow. And one of the key manifesto pledges made by the party is to devolve one million pounds to each and every ward in the city. Consistent with a commitment the SNP has made across Scotland to devolve power to local communities.
At public town hall meetings across the city, local people will decide how to invest this cash to the benefit of their communities. This citizen-led budgeting is a worldwide phenomenon. Its impact on the morale of local communities is well-documented, but we should not overlook the economic benefits it can bring.
A new report from Common Weal has identified 40 derelict sites or buildings in the East End of Glasgow – the area I represent. Most are owned by the council. Many have lain unused for years, or even decades. Eyesores to the local community, as well as a tremendous missed opportunity.
These derelict sites need development. Putting them to good use as part of a citizen-led approach to rebuilding local economies could deliver significant economic, as well as social, benefits locally and across the country.
For too long, economic development in Scotland’s cities has been about top-down decision making. This a strategy that has often failed to realise the potential for high living standards and stable local employment for our most deprived communities. It’s time to stop looking at areas like the East End of Glasgow as problems to be solved. Instead they should be seen as assets to be developed and nurtured.
In the year since I was elected to serve the people of Provan, my belief that the greatest asset of this area is its people has been reinforced.
There’s an abundance of passion and talent, as well as the ideas, enthusiasm and energy to improve communities for the better. Last year, the Scottish Government passed the Community Empowerment Act. This ground-breaking (in more ways than one) piece of legislation gives urban communities the right to buy disused or derelict land, with funding available from the Scottish Land Fund.
This is a radical new approach. Our elected representatives – existing and new – need to work together to encourage grassroots leadership in these projects. Enabling and empowering citizens to forge their own paths for their communities. And be there to support them where they need it. Far more economic development opportunities should be citizen-led, and be facilitated by local and national governments. Our newly elected councillors will play no small part in this.
Independence will give us the levers to make better economic decisions at Holyrood, but self-determination starts at a grassroots level, in the streets and communities of Scotland.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel