§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for community councils.
§ Mr. StewartI announced, on 11 November, new measures to strengthen the role of community councils following local government reform.
Under the changes, community councils will gain the legal right to be consulted on local planning issues and schemes which the new councils will be preparing for decentralising service delivery arrangements. In addition, local licensing boards will be urged in new Government guidance to keep community councils fully informed of local developments in their area.