Democracy Matters phase 2: analysis of responses
An analysis report of responses to the second phase of the Democracy Matters engagement process, which ran from August 2023 until February 2024. During this time, communities from across Scotland came together to consider how decision-making should look in their town, village or neighbourhood.
Appendix B: Glossary of terms
Anchor organisations or networks
A singular or group of organisations that are rooted in their local communities due to their function and relationships with their communities.
Citizens' Assembly
A deliberative process that involves a relatively larger number of people (50-250), selected to be demographically representative of the general public coming together to deliberate on an issue over several days within weeks to months.
Citizens' Jury
Similar to a Citizens Assembly except with a smaller group of people (typically 12-24), who will deliberate on an issue over a period of 2-7 days (not necessarily consecutively).
Community Action Plan (CAP)
Community action plans are documents that set out a clear vision with priorities supported by local people, a timeline for achieving them, and options for implementing them.
Community Council
A voluntary organisation, which acts as Scotland's most local form of democracy. They are set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area.
Community Empowerment Act
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) 2015 Act strengthens community voices in decisions about public services and makes it easier for them to own and manage land and buildings.
Community Interest Company (CIC)
A special type of limited company which is designed for social enterprises or not-for-profit projects and exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
Community Learning and Development
A field of practice which includes community-based adult learning, development. Allowing people to identify their goals, to engage in learning and take action to bring about change for themselves and their communities.
Community of interest
A group of people who share the same interests, knowledge or understanding of a subject where they exchange thoughts and ideas about that common interest.
Community of place
A group of people who live in a certain area and are a common culture, interests, and values.
Participatory Budgeting
A form of citizen participation in which citizens are involved in the process of deciding how public money is spent.
Public Body
A public body is a formally established organisation that is publicly funded to deliver a public or government service, though not as a ministerial department. The term refers to a wide range of public sector entities including local authorities and health boards.
Ringfencing
When a portion of finances or assets are reserved separately, typically for a specific purpose.
Sortition
The action of selecting officials or jurors at random.
Subsidiarity
The general aim of this principle is to guarantee a degree of independence for a lower authority in relation to a higher body or for a local authority in relation to central government.
TSI (Third Sector Interfaces)
Charities which support third sector activity across the country, there are 32 TSIs, one for each local authority area.
Contact
Email: democracymatters@gov.scot
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