What statutory provisions have been made to enable MSPs, councillors and community councillors to participate in community planning.

The Local Government in ScotlandAct 2003 provides the statutory basis for community planning. It does not specificallymention MSPs or community councillors.
Section 15(1) places a duty onlocal authorities to initiate, facilitate and maintain a community planning processto plan and provide public services provided in their area. It specifies that thereshould be consultation among:
· “all the public bodies (includingthe local authority)” responsible for providing services, and with
· “such community bodies and other bodiesor persons as is appropriate”.
The Community Planning StatutoryGuidance (paragraph 2) explains that: “this duty has been placed on local authoritiesbecause they are unique as democratically accountable bodies with a broad rangeof responsibilities which impact significantly, and directly, on communities.” CommunityPlanning Advice Note 7, on the Role of Elected and Board Members, describes thedifferent levels of engagement of elected members in the community planning process.
Paragraph 5.1 of the StatutoryGuidance states that the definition of “community body” in Section 15(4) of theact is “deliberately broad in order to avoid excluding any particular communities”.It also emphasises that local authorities should consult and co-operate with a widerange of interests including “Community Councils fulfilling their role as representativesof their local area”. Further details are given in Community Planning Advice Note5 on Effective Community Engagement.
Community Planning Statutory Guidance is available online at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/localgov/cpsg-00.asp.
Community Planning Advice Notesare available online at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/localgov/cpan-00.asp.