Edinburgh and Glasgow move towards co-operative status

Edinburgh City Council is making “good progress” as it continues its drive to become a co-operative capital and Glasgow City Council is also on track to gain co-operative...

Edinburgh City Council is making “good progress” as it continues its drive to become a co-operative capital and Glasgow City Council is also on track to gain co-operative status.

In Edinburgh, the council has signed a memorandum of understanding with Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative to generate community solar energy on the roofs of some of its buildings. The newly formed Edinburgh Student Housing Co-op will lease a large property from Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association, a deal which came about as a result of contacts made via the council. And there will be new community co-ops in Gracemount, Greendykes and West Pilton, as part of the 21st Century Homes Programme.

The city’s drive began after the 2012 local elections, when a ‘capital coalition’ between Labour and the Scottish National Party pledged to transform the way council services were planned, managed and delivered and move towards being a Co-operative Council.

Later that year the council launched its Framework to Advance a Co-operative Capital 2012/17, which focuses on energy, housing, social care and childcare co-ops. It then established a co-operative development unit, which has since reported good progress in each of the four target areas and in council service design and procurement.

The coalition received cross-party support for its proposal to join the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network, the first local authority in Scotland to do so. It has also created its first petitions committee, established direct parent representation on its children and families committee and revised of the budgetary process “to allow meaningful public input and debate before any final decisions are made”.

Chief executive of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce, said: “In particular, a lot of time has been spent engaging with external agencies and communities to enable them to deliver the concept themselves, ensuring that their local knowledge, preferences and practical experience shapes the services in their area.”

Martin Meteyard of Co-operative Business Consultants, who has worked with both councils, said: “The level of commitment shown continues to be very encouraging. Maintaining this commitment in terms of resources is going to be challenging, particularly in the context of continued cuts to the council’s budget, and so building stronger relations with ‘anchor institutions’, such as universities and hospitals, will be key.”

Glasgow City Council, which is also striving for co-operative status, has established a co-operative development unit to promote the expansion of co-ops, mutuals and social enterprises, and to provide advice and support on developing co-operative business models.

A budget of £500,000 has been allocated to co-operative development for 2013/14 and 2014/15 and the council’s executive committee has agreed a framework with four main themes, namely co-operative values and co-operation, co-production and community led commissioning, community assets and co-operative service delivery.

The council has also established the Co-operative Glasgow Business Development Fund, which makes grants to co-ops. The first round of awards were made in December 2013 and a second round is expected to be announced shortly.

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