Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015: consultation on guidance for local authorities

Ministerial Foreword

I love growing my own fresh vegetables and fruit and I want many more Scots to have the opportunity to do exactly that.

It's good for the environment, it's good for our physical and mental health and, despite the challenges and frustrations, it's a lot of fun too.

Growing our own food, whether it's on an allotment or anywhere else for that matter, increases the availability of tasty, healthy and affordable fruit and vegetables.

That, in turn, will help ensure Scotland becomes a Good Food Nation -- by fostering a culture of enjoying nutritious and healthy food.

Good food can have major impacts on our health, environment and society. It can help reduce dietary-related diseases, mitigate the environmental impact of our food consumption, and bring communities together too.

Allotments and other grow your own initiatives help us deliver these benefits. I am launching this consultation to ensure that we take this opportunity to put the foundations in place to develop sound guidance for local authorities when delivering on their new functions, and ensure we have a legislative framework that is fit for purpose.

I want as many interested parties as possible contribute to the consultation process so our guidance is appropriate and beneficial, and I really hope you take the opportunity to contribute to this process.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.

Roseanna Cunningham
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform

August 2017