Chapter 5 Communities and Local Government
Portfolio Responsibilities
The portfolio's overarching aims are to tackle inequalities and reduce child poverty, to create a fairer Scotland, support regeneration and inclusive growth, ensure provision of accessible, affordable, energy efficient housing for all, and to promote community empowerment and the participation of people in all aspects of Scottish life.
Further to our commitments set out in the Programme for Government, we continue to prioritise funding to reduce child poverty; to continue to invest in Discretionary Housing Payments to provide direct financial support to those struggling with housing costs; to support our continued major expansion of affordable and social housing; to improve safety, quality and standards of existing homes and to tackle fuel poverty and support our targets for net zero buildings; to continue our programme of Planning reform, including launching a programme of digital transformation and complete our review of Scotland's National Planning Framework to deliver a world-class planning system which enables inclusive and long-term, sustainable development; to regenerate, strengthen and empower our communities; to revitalise our towns; to support the third sector and develop social enterprise; and eradicate homelessness and rough sleeping.
The portfolio also incorporates the Scottish Government's funding for local authorities in Scotland, allowing them to deliver the full range of services, from education and social care to transport and planning.
Spending Plans
Table 5.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
| Level 2 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Planning and Building Standards |
9.5 |
12.4 |
30.4 |
| Third Sector |
24.9 |
24.6 |
26.1 |
| Governance and Reform |
5.6 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
| Housing |
1,031.6 |
1,165.9 |
923.2 |
| Social Justice and Regeneration |
66.9 |
76.9 |
122.5 |
| Connected Communities |
- |
4.4 |
4.7 |
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
| Scottish Housing Regulator |
4.5 |
4.3 |
5.1 |
| Local Government |
10,872.9 |
11,020.8 |
11,112.0 |
| Allocation of COVID consequentials |
|
|
309.0 |
| Total Communities and Local Government |
12,019.2 |
12,317.1 |
12,541.1 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
7,166.9 |
7,649.8 |
8,446.9 |
| of which Operating Costs |
35.8 |
40.2 |
42.7 |
| Non-cash |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
| Capital |
1,737.5 |
1,488.5 |
1,363.0 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs)* |
261.5 |
338.5 |
100.0 |
| UK Funded AME |
2,853.0 |
2,840.0 |
2,631.0 |
*The Financial Transactions total presented here represents the 'net' portfolio position after adjusting for forecast Financial Transactions income. To see the 'gross' or total amount of financial transactions that will be spent by the portfolio in 2021-22, please see Annex A.
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
| Level 2 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator - shown separately |
(3.3) |
(3.3) |
(3.6) |
| Scottish Housing Regulator - shown separately |
(4.5) |
(4.3) |
(5.1) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities returned to portfolios (E&S, Justice and TIC) |
(740.7) |
(895.9) |
(791.2) |
| Total Communities and Local Government |
11,269.7 |
11,413.6 |
11,741.2 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) |
|
|
80.0 |
Table 5.02: Planning and Building Standards Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Architecture and Place |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
| Building Standards |
0.9 |
2.0 |
16.7 |
| Planning |
6.5 |
8.3 |
11.5 |
| Planning and Environmental Appeals |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
| Total Planning and Building Standards |
9.5 |
12.4 |
30.4 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
9.0 |
10.4 |
12.4 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
0.5 |
2.0 |
18.0 |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.03: Third Sector Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Third Sector |
24.9 |
24.6 |
26.1 |
| Total Third Sector |
24.9 |
24.6 |
26.1 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
24.9 |
22.6 |
22.6 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
- |
- |
- |
| FTs |
- |
2.0 |
3.5 |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.04: Governance and Reform Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Local Governance |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
| Public Service Reform and Community Empowerment |
5.1 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
| Total Governance and Reform |
5.6 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
5.6 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
- |
- |
- |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.05: Housing Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| More Homes |
788.7 |
896.1 |
628.1 |
| Fuel Poverty/Energy Efficiency |
119.6 |
137.1 |
145.6 |
| Housing Support |
117.1 |
126.5 |
142.9 |
| Communities Analysis |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.6 |
| Total Housing |
1,031.6 |
1,165.9 |
923.2 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
142.3 |
150.9 |
163.5 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
627.8 |
678.5 |
663.2 |
| FTs |
261.5 |
336.5 |
96.5 |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.06: Social Justice and Regeneration Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Social Justice |
24.6 |
29.5 |
40.9 |
| Regeneration |
42.3 |
47.4 |
81.6 |
| Total Social Justice and Regeneration |
66.9 |
76.9 |
122.5 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
41.9 |
46.9 |
58.2 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
25.0 |
30.0 |
64.3 |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.07: Connected Communities Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Total Connected Communities |
- |
4.4 |
4.7 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
- |
4.4 |
4.4 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
- |
- |
0.3 |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.08: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Total Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
| Non-cash |
0.1 |
0.1 |
- |
| Capital |
- |
- |
- |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.09: Scottish Housing Regulator Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Total Scottish Housing Regulator |
4.5 |
4.3 |
5.1 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
| Non-cash |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
| Capital |
0.2 |
- |
0.2 |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5.10: Central Government Grants to Local Authorities Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Transfer of Management of Development Funding |
111.8 |
92.2 |
92.2 |
| Vacant and Derelict Land Grant |
11.4 |
7.6 |
7.6 |
| Total Communities and Local Government Central Government Grants to Local Authorities |
123.2 |
99.8 |
99.8 |
Total Local Government Funding 2021-22
| |
£m |
| Budget Core Local Government Allocations (Table 5.11) |
11,108.2 |
| Revenue Funding within other Portfolios (Table 5.14) |
512.2 |
| Total Local Government Finance Circular |
11,620.4 |
| Local Government Funding outwith Core Settlement (Table 5.15) |
650.4 |
| Total Scottish Government funding to Local Government |
12,270.8 |
Table 5.11: Local Government Spending Plans (Level 3)
| |
2019-20 Budget |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| General Revenue Grant |
6,733.5 |
6,713.4 |
7,108.2 |
| Non-Domestic Rates |
2,636.0 |
2,840.0 |
2,631.0 |
| Support for Capital |
598.4 |
467.9 |
478.0 |
| Specific Resource Grants |
273.7 |
685.6 |
752.0 |
| Specific Capital Grants |
278.0 |
310.1 |
139.0 |
| Local Government Advice and Policy |
- |
3.8 |
3.8 |
| Total Local Government |
10,519.6 |
11,020.8 |
11,112.0 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
7,007.2 |
7,402.8 |
7,864.0 |
| Non-cash |
- |
- |
- |
| Capital |
826.4 |
778.1 |
617.0 |
| FTs |
- |
- |
- |
| UK Funded AME |
2,636.0 |
2,840.0 |
2,631.0 |
| Other Sources of Support |
|
|
|
| Health and Social Care Integration |
- |
355.0 |
355.0 |
Note: The Scottish Government guarantees the combined General Revenue Grant plus the distributable non-domestic rates (NDR) income figures.
Table 5.12: Specific Grant Funding and Other Local Government Funding
| |
Portfolio |
2020-21 Budget |
2021-22 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
| Criminal Justice Social Work |
Justice |
86.5 |
86.5 |
| Pupil Equity Fund |
Education and Skills |
120.0 |
120.0 |
| Early Learning and Childcare Expansion |
Education and Skills |
463.2 |
521.9 |
| Gaelic |
Education and Skills |
4.5 |
4.5 |
| Support for Inter-Island Ferries |
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
11.5 |
19.2 |
| Total Specific Revenue Grants |
|
685.7 |
752.0 |
| Vacant and Derelict Land |
Housing and Social Justice |
7.6 |
7.6 |
| Transfer of Management of Development Funding (TMDF) |
Housing and Social Justice |
92.2 |
92.2 |
| Regional Transport Partnership |
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
15.3 |
15.3 |
| Heat Networks Early Adopters Challenge Fund |
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
50.0 |
- |
| Cycling Walking and Safer Routes |
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
8.9 |
23.9 |
| Early Learning and Childcare |
Education and Skills |
121.0 |
- |
| Total Specific Capital Grants |
|
295.0 |
139.0 |
Table 5.13: Scottish Fiscal Commission (
SFC) Non-Domestic Rate Income Forecast
| |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2025-26 |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
| Non-Domestic Rates Estimate |
1,848 |
2,680 |
2,930 |
3,224 |
3,231 |
3,216 |
| PCA/forecast |
1,916 |
2,680 |
2,930 |
3,224 |
3,231 |
3,216 |
| Distributable Amount |
1,868 |
2,631 |
2,855 |
3,224 |
3,231 |
3,216 |
| Prior Year Adjustments |
(129) |
(68) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Yearly Balance |
(80) |
(19) |
75 |
- |
- |
- |
| Cumulative Balance |
(56) |
(75) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5:14: Revenue Funding within Other Portfolios to be Transferred In-Year
| |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
| £m |
£m |
| Local Government Budget Settlement |
11,017.0 |
11,108.2 |
| Additional Revenue |
| 1+2 Languages |
3.0 |
2.4 |
| Additional Support for Learning |
15.0 |
15.0 |
| Appropriate Adults |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Blue Badge Scheme |
0.7 |
0.7 |
| British Sign Language |
0.2 |
- |
| Building Standards Fees |
(1.5) |
(1.5) |
| Carers Act |
11.6 |
40.1 |
| Child Burial and Crematoria Charges |
0.3 |
0.6 |
| Children and Young People Act |
1.0 |
- |
| Community Justice Transitional Funding |
1.6 |
2.0 |
| Customer First |
1.4 |
1.4 |
| Discretionary Housing Payments |
71.8 |
83.1 |
| Early Learning and Childcare Expansion |
24.1 |
24.1 |
| Former Housing Support Grant |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Free Personal and Nursing Care |
2.2 |
12.3 |
| Free Sanitary Products in Public Places |
2.8 |
2.8 |
| Free Sanitary Products in Schools (listed as tbc in 19-20 budget) |
2.1 |
2.1 |
| Health and Social Care |
57.2 |
57.2 |
| Health and Social Care and Mental Health |
120.0 |
120.0 |
| Living Wage |
25.0 |
59.0 |
| Mental Health Officer Shortfall |
0.5 |
- |
| Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans |
8.0 |
8.0 |
| School Clothing Grant |
6.0 |
6.0 |
| School Counselling |
4.0 |
4.0 |
| Scottish Welfare Fund |
40.9 |
40.9 |
| Seatbelts on School Transport |
0.2 |
0.6 |
| Self-Directed Support |
3.5 |
3.5 |
| Sensory Impairment |
0.3 |
0.3 |
| Temporary Accommodation |
23.5 |
23.5 |
| Tobacco-Related Issues |
1.3 |
1.3 |
| Extra Environmental Health Officers |
- |
1.7 |
| Educational Psychologists |
- |
(0.9) |
| Total Revenue Funding within other Portfolios |
428.7 |
512.2 |
| Total Local Government Settlement in Local Government Finance Circular |
11,445.7 |
11,620.4 |
Table 5.15: Local Government Funding outwith Core Settlement
| |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
| £m |
£m |
| Total Local Government Finance Circular |
11,445.7 |
11,620.4 |
| Revenue |
| Attainment Scotland Fund |
62.0 |
62.0 |
| Business Gateway |
1.6 |
1.6 |
| City Region and Growth Deals |
3.8 |
11.2 |
| Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company |
0.5 |
0.5 |
| Community Justice Services |
- |
4.0 |
| Community Mental Health and Wellbeing |
- |
15.0 |
| Discretionary Housing Payment (Care Experienced Young People) |
2.0 |
- |
| Education Maintenance Allowance |
25.0 |
25.0 |
| Fair Start Scotland |
1.1 |
1.1 |
| No One Left Behind (formerly Local Employability Model) |
7.1 |
7.1 |
| Parental Employability Support Funding (PESF) |
5.0 |
5.0 |
| (PESF) Boost - Disabled Parents Employability Support |
2.0 |
2.0 |
| PESF -Boost - ELC alignment |
- |
2.0 |
| PESF Boost - Support for young parents |
- |
0.7 |
| Private Water Supply Grants |
1.7 |
1.7 |
| Schools for the Future Programme |
72.4 |
72.6 |
| Supporting Post-16 Transitions Towards Employment |
4.3 |
- |
| Support for Sustainable and Active Travel |
5.3 |
5.3 |
| Low Emission Zone Support |
- |
2.1 |
| Travel Strategy and Innovation |
4.1 |
4.1 |
| Mental Health Officer Shortfall |
- |
0.5 |
| Total Revenue |
197.9 |
223.5 |
| Capital |
| Capital Land and Works |
22.0 |
22.0 |
| City Region and Growth Deals |
201.0 |
198.1 |
| Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company |
5.0 |
5.0 |
| Coig Tourist Routes |
0.3 |
- |
| Future Transport Fund |
18.0 |
51.0 |
| Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) |
55.0 |
58.0 |
| Regeneration Capital Grant Fund |
25.0 |
25.0 |
| Support for Sustainable and Active Travel |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Travel Strategy and Innovation |
55.1 |
35.0 |
| Gaelic Capital Fund |
- |
3.8 |
| Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme |
- |
5.0 |
| Place, Town Centres and 20 Minute Neighbourhoods |
- |
23.0 |
| Total Capital |
382.4 |
426.9 |
| Total Local Government Funding outwith Core Settlement |
580.3 |
650.4 |
| Overall Scottish Government Funding for Local Government |
12,026.0 |
12,270.8 |
Communities and Local Government contributions to the National Outcomes
Primary National Outcomes
- Communities
- Children and Young People
- Poverty
Secondary National Outcomes
- Economy
- Environment
- Health
- Education
- Human Rights
- International
For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equalities and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
