Urban, rural and region - Same Difference?

2. Urban, rural and region - Same Difference? SURF seminar, Perth 7 November 2006 Alasdair McKinlay Learning Connections Manager Communities Scotland

3. Outline • Asset ownership and Communities Scotland • Opportunities • What works • Same difference?

4. Registered Social Landlords • have loads of assets, 177 landlords own almost 260,000 homes ; • are regulated; • have stable income streams; • have professional staff and support structures; SFHA, SHARE, EVH • Role not limited to housing

5. RSLs • Audit Scotland found post stock transfer: - Tenants consider the service is better -Transfers have promoted greater tenant control

6. RSLs’ Wider Role • Between April 2003 and end March 2006 £5.518m of WR funding had been spent supporting the development, purchase and creation of community assets • Most are RSL owned multi purpose community facilities (the majority in Glasgow but with a spread right across the country)

7. RSLs’ Wider Role • However there are some examples of community transport, work on renewable energy proposals, community owned workspaces, recycling centres • WR funding always part of a wider package of funding

8. Futurebuilders • Not all community based organisations • But, are social economy and often targeted at communities of interest • Over 60% of Investment Fund invested in urban areas and overall £11m invested in asset development

9. Futurebuilders • Sense Scotland, £250,000 towards a £3.6m scheme to refurbish and renovate an office block in Kinning Park, Govan • Inspire, £350, 000 towards a £1.6m new-build in Aberdeen • Asset ownership as a way of increasing sustainability

10. Development Trusts • Less active in urban areas and tend to be smaller scale • But this changing • Support to DTA Scotland to expand their work in Urban areas

11. Opportunities • Capacity building to support BLF’s Growing Community Assets programme • £250,000 per year 06/08 initially targeted at West central Scotland • Focus on smaller groups with less capacity • Make strong links to local Social Economy Partnerships - and do National development work

12. Opportunities • Development and implementation of guidance and regulations on disposal of public sector land • Social Investment Scotland, bespoke loan responses to community need

13. What works • Role of RSLs can be very positive • Not just as leaders, but as advisers and supporters • Expertise in property development and management • Can spin off new social enterprises, for example Development Trusts

14. What Works • Supportive public sector • As paying tenants, or by delivering mainstream services from assets • Transferring assets • Building community capacity

15. Same Difference? Similarities? • need to be business like; • need for ongoing revenue income; • need broad community buy in; • Technical issues in asset development and management - whether buildings or land

16. Same difference? Issues/Differences? • Scale - Greater Easterhouse vs Gigha - defining urban communities in relation to assets • Community organisations’ confidence and capacity and who builds it

17. Same difference? • Generating revenues in the most disadvantaged areas - for example finding tenants, running money making businesses • Risk of narrow focus on buildings? For example community centres?