Democracy Matters: Steering Group

Overview

This group was established in December 2024 to develop the findings from the Democracy Matters engagement process on the future of community decision making.

It will meet every six weeks to consider different aspects of community decision making model design, as well as how these can be tested with communities and partners in the public and third sector.

It will conclude by spring 2025 with the aim of agreeing models in principle and how to progress these through to the next stage of Democracy Matters, focusing on feasibility and testing.

Members

• Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance (Co Chair)
• Cllr Steven Heddle, Vice President of COSLA (Co Chair)
• Susan Paxton, Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC)
• Elizabeth Docherty, Scottish Communities Alliance (SCA)
• Pauline Smith, Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS)
• Tressa Burke, Glasgow Disability Alliance  (GDA)
• Tanveer Parnez, Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS)
• Rona Blackwood, Children’s Parliament .
• Brian Davey, Improvement Service
• members of the Scottish Youth Parliament
• Jennifer Kerr, South Lanarkshire Council 
• Jacqui Greenlees, North Ayrshire Council 
• Paul Vaughan, Fife Council
• Lee Haxton, Perth and Kinross Council
• Douglas Hendry, Argyll and Bute Council
• Anna Baxendale, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
• Katie Kelly, New Local (former Deputy Chief Executive East Ayrshire Council)
• Willie Sullivan, Electoral Reform Society
• James Henderson, independent academic and researcher