The voice of Scottish civil Society

The proposal, originally from the Campaign for a Scottish Parliament and Common Cause, for the establishment of a Scottish Civic Assembly, representative of the whole breadth of Scottish civic life and society, was adopted and developed by the Coalition for Scottish Democracy, who sponsored a Consultative Conference held, in the new Parliament building in Edinburgh, on June 18th, 1994. The Civic Assembly is in no way competitive with the Scottish Parliament, but is complementary to it. As part of the process of democratic renewal in Scotland, it aims to engage all the people in the debates and decision-making at the heart of our national life.

The founding declaration

This includes the commitment that the Civic Assembly will:

1. Demonstrate that "there is an alternative" [to the present state of Scotland] if there were "power in the hands of Scottish citizens"
2. Stimulate public debate in a non-partisan manner and influence the political agenda and direction of our country..

The composition of the Civic Assembly

The Civic Assembly will be composed of representatives from organisations in three major groups:

1. National bodies (e.g. STUC, ACTS (Churches), SCVO (Voluntary Organisations), ASCC)
2. Key Sector Standing Commissions (e.g. Agriculture, Business, Industry, Education, Health, Housing, Justice, the Land & Environment, Transport etc.)
3. Social Interest Groups (e.g. Disabled, Elderly, Ethnic minorities).

The aim: representation built on participation

The aim is for it to be fully representative of civic society and the key sectors of our national life. The Key Sectors are presently being established, on the lines of the present Standing Conference on Justice which includes the Law Society, the Faculty of Advocates, the Police, the Courts, and the "consumer groups" such as Scottish Council for Civil Liberties, SACRO, Family Mediation, and Victim Support. In each sector, planners, funding bodies, providers, professional associations, administrators, the workers at all levels, the unions, and pensioners, consumers, possible 'victims' and anyone else concerned, should all be represented.

The Key Sectors are defined by their focus on an area of civic life where elected representatives in democratic government, national or local, make decisions about legislation and/or the allocation of resources in ways which affect the life of individuals and the community. Some organisations may contribute to more than one Key Sector.

National bodies such as the STUC, Chambers of Commerce, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Churches, and the Association of Community Councils provide a further national dimension, and other 'social interest' groups such as Ethnic Minorities, the Disabled, Gays and Lesbians, Youth and the Elderly, whose needs and interests may range across several key sectors, are also given their place and voice to contribute their particular experience and insights and act as watchdogs against accidental discrimination.

A party-free zone

The Civic Assembly excludes only the elected politicians and political parties because they form the other, major aspect of our democracy. As individuals, of course, politicians can participate through many bodies to which they may belong, but they would be ineligible for election to the Plenary Assembly and the Council.

COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and the Councils deal with many of the areas of civil life covered by the key sectors, and their Council Committees contain members with substantial expertise. Councils also have valuable experience of public/private co-operation. As with the Scottish Parliament and its Committees (or any continuing Scottish Office), satisfactory relationships between the Civic Assembly and elected Local Government are of vital importance.

Civic Assembly meetings and mode of operation

The Civic Assembly holds at least two plenary meetings a year. The first was in March 1995, and was focused on "Employment and Training". (Copies of its Recommendations are available on request). The second was on Transport, the third on Poverty and Inequality, and the next is on Preparing for Change.

The first Council was elected on Oct. 7th 1996, and meets to set agendas, promote the growth of the Civic Assembly and give oversight to its work. All the organisations are asked to participate as networks for the dissemination of papers and discussion of proposals, thus drawing in all whom they represent. It is hoped that the Scottish media will co-operate and assist in concurrently stimulating public debate on the Civic Assembly's chosen agenda. Thus the maximum use will be made of existing channels and structures, and work on Agenda Topics will overlap, and be at different stages of their cycle at any given moment. The 'Future Scotland Project' is another current initiative of the Assembly, focusing on setting agendas and developing monitoring techniques for the quality of civic life.

The work of the Civic Assembly: a voice to get action

As the Civic Assembly itself develops and matures, it is envisaged that it will:

1. Provide a route for participation in decision-making at an early stage for all interested parties, and indeed for all citizens
2. Analyse the strengths and problems in the various areas of Scottish life
3. Define the feasible options for solution or improvement
4. Pass these, with recommendations where there is a consensus, to the elected Parliament or local government for appropriate political decision-making
5. Scrutinise draft legislation and comment before it is finalised.

The Civic Assembly gives access for every citizen, by one connection or another, to a non-party political forum for the discussion and serious consideration of Scotland's needs, enabling all to participate and contribute their experience and expertise in a more democratic, comprehensive and balanced way than the present conglomeration of Quangos and pressure groups. It can do valuable preparatory work for the coming Parliament's agenda, and give Scotland a civic voice, at home and abroad.

For affiliation as an institution, preferably indicating your main Key Sector, contact:

The Secretary
Scottish Civic Assembly
18 Claremont Crescent
Edinburgh EH7
Tel: (0131) 556 3882

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