To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution that community-led initiatives can make to supporting local government services and outcomes, and reducing demand through early Intervention and prevention. (S6O-05267)

Our recently published public service reform strategy recognises the critical importance of community empowerment to the design and delivery of local services. Through the democracy matters process, we have gained valuable insight into the contribution that community-based organisations and individual citizens are already making to improving outcomes in local areas, as well as their desire for greater influence and control over decisions that affect them.

The Cabinet secretary will be aware of the innovative transformation work that is under way in Clackmannanshire, supported by £1 million of investment from the Scottish Government, which puts community voice at the centre of designing local solutions. By contrast, does she agree that the United Kingdom Government’s top-down pride in place programme, which provides no funding for Clackmannanshire, undermines both devolution and genuine community-led initiatives such as those in my Constituency? Is she concerned that, although Labour members of the Welsh Parliament have spoken out against that devolution grab by the Labour Government in Westminster, there has not been a squeak from the Labour Party here in Holyrood?

I agree with that. Although we welcome all investment to support Scotland’s communities, we are strongly opposed to the use of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020—as the Labour Party here used to be—to fund activity in devolved areas in Scotland. The UK Government’s local growth funding, including the pride in place programme, has completely bypassed democratic scrutiny and accountability and has created stakeholder confusion, undermining the governance structures and work of local communities. That is a view that is shared by Labour members of the Senedd in Wales.

We have a strong track record of delivering regeneration with communities, and I hope that the UK Government honours our previous ministerial agreement to work together to maximise the impact of those funds for Scotland’s people and places.

I ask for supplementary questions to be brief.

Audit Scotland has warned that councils are under severe financial pressure this year, with community facilities and local services already being cut back. Community groups tell us that they simply do not have the capacity to take on more. Does the Cabinet secretary therefore accept that relying on community-led initiatives is not a substitute for properly funded local government?

We have confirmation from the Accounts Commission of real-terms increases to local government funding for this year and the past two years at least, which helps to protect services and deliver for local communities. I point out to Alexander Stewart that at no point, so far as I am aware, has any member of his party made local government funding a key priority in the budget discussions. Perhaps there needs to be a little bit more communication of what the priorities are from the Conservative benches.

The North West Glasgow Voluntary Sector Network supports, connects and advocates for organisations providing vital services to the people who live in the north-west of Glasgow, many of them from some of the most deprived areas. All that could end in March, however, because it was told this week that it is losing its funding. What can the Cabinet secretary do to help the network, and will she work with me to ask the council to rethink the decision to defund that critical service?

As Pam Duncan-Glancy will know, it is for councils to make decisions about the various organisations that receive funding in their areas. We also provide considerable funding to third sector organisations. If Pam Duncan-Glancy would like to furnish me with further details, I would be happy to communicate with her about that particular group.