Chamber and committees

I have two amendments in the group, which would ensure that

“promoting the creation of a Community Wealth Fund and the strategic use of community benefit payments from land use change and renewable energy projects”

to

“support the development of community-led projects”

was prioritised and included in the bill.

By embedding the promotion of such a fund in the bill, we would create a pathway for communities to benefit directly from the economic activity that takes place around them, not as an afterthought but as a core principle. That approach would ensure that the wealth that was generated from our natural assets and the transition to renewables was recycled back into local priorities, so that it supported projects that communities design, lead and control.

Last night, the cross-party group on islands and the cross-party group on renewable energy and energy efficiency held a joint meeting. We heard directly about the huge benefits to local communities of co-operative, community-owned and municipally owned renewables and heat projects investing in Scotland. Rather than wealth being exported, the communities directly benefit and shape the benefits. The statistic that was used last night was that less than 1 per cent of the wind energy that is produced in Scotland is from community-owned facilities. We need to make the most of that huge opportunity.

Richard Leonard’s amendments are really important. Amendments 50 and 51 make particularly important points. The importance of Co-operative Development Scotland and the Scottish National Investment Bank needs to be higher up our agenda. Both could and should play an important role, which should be reflected in legislation.

Amendment 51, which sets out that ministers must encourage Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to practically support employee-owned companies, is crucial, because we need to ensure that such opportunities are available.

I am keen to support Lorna Slater’s amendments 41 to 45 on procurement so that local community co-operatives and social enterprises can benefit from the transition to renewables. Paul Sweeney’s amendment 119 seeks to empower and support communities through credit unions and community wealth funds.

There are many good amendments in the group. I take the minister’s point that we cannot use them all, but the ambition behind the amendments that I have mentioned is critical, and they should be included in the bill. A community wealth fund and the strategic use of community benefit payments will be crucial and will create many opportunities.

I have two amendments in the group, which are both aimed at strengthening accountability in the community wealth building statement process.

Amendment 82 would ensure that the annual statement reports on not just the actions that are taken but their impact in delivering the aims that are set out in section 1(2). That would shift the focus from activity to outcomes so that we can see whether community wealth building is genuinely making a difference on the ground. I welcome Lorna Slater’s support for that amendment.

Amendment 83 would require ministers to set out how they have responded to any recommendations from the independent review, and, if they have not acted on them, to explain why. That would prevent recommendations from being ignored and ensure a clear line of accountability between independent scrutiny and Government action.

Together, those amendments would make the reporting process more transparent, more meaningful and more responsive to evidence. Richard Leonard’s points about transparency and inclusivity are also important. The amendments in this group are about strengthening the legislation, and I hope that colleagues can support them today.

As a member of the Unison and Community trade unions, I want to note that is good to have you in front of us today.

There is a real issue around who pays for what and when, and you have talked about job losses and people not having opportunities. How can we ramp up the potential opportunities across every community? You talked about energy, too. I have seen a comment on the need for regional just transition planning, so that people are involved across the country and know where the new jobs are. What is your thinking on that? You mentioned the manufacturing opportunities in new transport infrastructure and sorting out people’s homes to make them energy efficient. How do we ensure that there are jobs that go with those opportunities, now and in the future?

That is really helpful, thanks. I will hand back to you, convener.

I have four amendments in the group, which were crafted with the assistance of Community Land Scotland. The amendments aim to strengthen the bill by ensuring that its general principles prioritise community organisations’ and local businesses’ retention of the wealth that is generated.

My amendment 72 would ensure that the general aims and outcomes of the bill are in

“line with the United Nations sustainable development goals”.

That is absolutely critical. The amended wording would mirror the language of the national performance framework, recognising that financial wealth cannot be separated from social, cultural, environmental and community wealth. I welcome the minister’s support for my amendment 72.

My amendments 73 and 74 would insert stronger wording to ensure that the measures truly promote opportunity, development and equality—which are crucial and should not be options—for community organisations. My amendment 117 would ensure that the UN sustainable development goals are properly defined and included in the legislation.

I hope that we will have constructive discussions. Some amendments present slight variations in wording options, such as among “must”, “should” and “may”. Even if it is not possible for all our amendments to be agreed to, I hope that, when we get to the votes, we will strengthen the bill.

Respectfully, I disagree with your point. If you were to come back to the Parliament in five years to see what difference the legislation had made, you would see that the bill could not deliver the transformation that it aspires to without these amendments. We all support the aspiration, but it is about delivery, which is a key lesson for the Parliament. This is not just about warm words—it is about ensuring that organisations are able and supported to deliver the changes and to meet the bill’s ambition.

I totally take that point, but, even if the minister does not support that change to the legislation, would he commit to looking at the economic models, so that they are not left behind and missed out?

My amendment 91 simply seeks to strengthen the consultation requirements around the preparation of a community wealth building action plan. As drafted, the bill sets out a list of bodies that a local authority must consult, but my amendment would add a clear requirement to include any community bodies operating in the area covered by the plan, so that there would be no risk of any community groups being ignored.

That is really important, because community wealth building is meant to be rooted in local priorities and experience. Community bodies are often the organisations with the closest understanding of local needs, assets and opportunities. Ensuring that they are explicitly included in the consultation process would help to make the action plan more grounded, more representative and, ultimately, more effective.

The other amendments in the group—they cover transparency, inclusiveness, joint working with local authorities, credit unions, development trusts and businesses—are all important.

I will comment on Richard Leonard’s remarks on Co-operative Development Scotland. It is really important that it remains on our profile and is not just subsumed by Scottish Enterprise. If we are going to make community co-operatives work, they must be higher up the agenda.

My next question develops that point. To what extent are workers and unions able to influence the discussion to deliver the transition to net zero? Last night, at a meeting of the cross-party group on renewable energy and energy efficiency and the CPG on islands, we focused on community-owned projects and community benefits. We heard that, if you frame it as decarbonisation, people are not interested, so we need to talk about jobs, lowering bills and investing in communities.

You have just talked about ownership. Can we do more to get the benefits that other countries are getting through renewable energy companies in Scotland? How are you involved? Is it about municipal ownership or planning changes? What are your thoughts on how to involve workers across the country in delivering this so that they benefit?

Who wants to come in on that?

Dougie, do you want to come in on that? How do you get involved so that your members get what they need?