Local Authorities and Community Councils: Enhancing the Relationship: ANNEX C

Local Authorities and Community Councils: Enhancing the Relationship

ANNEX C
CONTACT LIST

Association of Scottish Community Councils 21 Grosvenor Street Edinburgh EH12 5ED Telephone and Fax No: 0131 225 4033

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Rosebery House 9 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5XZ Telephone: 0131 474 9200 Fax: 0131 474 9292

COSLA, as the representative voice of scottish local government, has four key objectives:

to provide national leadership for local government in Scotland to help councils strengthen local democracy and community support for local government; to increase the role and influence of local government in all matters affecting the communities which local government serves; to increase the control which local government has over its affairs; and to establish effective relationships with Government, European institutions and partner organisations.

COSLA also has a responsibility to develop, encourage and promote best local government practice in partnership with its member councils.

Local Government Ombudsman 23 Walker Street EDINBURGH EH3 7HX Telephone: 0131 225 5300 Fax: 0131 225 9495

The Local Government Ombudsman is officially called the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland. The Ombudsman can investigate whether you have suffered injustice caused by maladministration by your local council. It is for the Ombudsman to decide whether any particular complaint is within his remit to investigate. The service is independent and impartial and there is no charge.

Planning Aid for Scotland Bonnington Mill 72 Newhaven Road Edinburgh EH6 5QG Telephone: 0131 555 1565

Planning Aid for Scotland (PAS) is a charitable organisation which seeks to ensure the availability of independent advice, information, training and support on planning and environmental matters for citizens and community groups across Scotland. PAS provides this service through a network of volunteers who are all professional planners. It is a charity and dependent on grants and donations.

PAS aims to:

advise on how the planning system works enable individual or community groups to
- understand and comment on structure and local plans - participate proactively in forward planning - support or object to development proposals - submit planning applications

Scottish Community Education Council Community Government Exchange Rosebery House 9 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5EZ Telephone: 0131 313 2488 Fax: 0131 313 6800

The Scottish Community Education Council is the national organisation for community education providing advice to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, local authorities, national agencies and the voluntary sector in the field of community education. The Council receives grants from the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and the Scottish local authorities and is registered as an educational charity and company limited by guarantee. The Council`s mission is to support those active in community education to meet the learning needs of people in communities through influencing public policy and awareness; promoting effective strategies and best practice ; and providing information, publications and other services.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations 18-19 Claremont Crescent Edinburgh EH7 4QD Telephone: 0131 556 3882 Fax: 0131 556 0279

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in Scotland (SCVO) are the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland. Through their members, elected representatives, paid staff and volunteers, SCVO seeks to promote the interests of voluntary organisations and improve their effectiveness. They also have offices in Glasgow and Inverness:

SCVO 9th Floor Fleming House 134 Renfrew Street GLASGOW G3 6ST Tel: 0141 332 5660 Fax: 0141 332 4225	SCVO 9 Ardross Terrace INVERNESS IV3 5NQ Tel: 01463 235 633 Fax: 0143 716 003

Scottish Local Government Information Unit Baltic Chambers 50 Wellington Street Glasgow G2 6HJ Tel: 0141 226 4636 Fax: 0141 221 8786

Scottish Local Government Unit (SLGIU) was established to promote information and research services for Scottish local authorities and local authority trade unions. It carries out research and answers enquiries on local government issues. Its services are also provided to subscribers and the general public.

Scottish Rural Partnership Fund The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Rural Affairs and Natural Heritage Division Pentland House 47 Robb's Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY Telephone: 0131 244 3109 Fax: 0131 244 4071 E-Mail: ranh.so.ph.@gnet.gov.uk

The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund was established to provide resources to support the development of communities throughout Scotland. The fund offers grant aid from 3 separate schemes for that purpose. These are:

- the Rural Challenge Fund
- the Local Capital Grants Scheme for Community Facilities
- the Rural Strategic Support Fund

The Schemes have different aims and objectives.

Accounts Commission for Scotland 18 George Street EDINBURGH EH2 2QU

Accounts Commission is a statutory independent body which assists, through the audit process, local authorities and the health service in Scotland. It arranges for independent external audits of these bodies and must be satisfied that these organisations follow the rules and spend public money wisely. The Commission also promotes improvements in the quality and effectiveness of services.

The Scottish Office Development Department Local Government Group Area 3-H Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Telephone: 0131 244 7041 Fax: 0131 244 7058

The remit of the Local Government Group covers many aspects of local government issues and the group is split into smaller sections who are responsible for particular local government areas. The contact for this group has a remit which includes local government constitution, organisation and procedures; local democracy and decentralisation; and conduct of local authority members.