Community services

DISCLAIMER
The duties listed below are currently under review and have not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.

Promote and facilitate community ownership, decision-making, and empowerment initiatives

Councils should actively promote and facilitate community ownership, decision-making, and empowerment initiatives.
Create or support allotments, community gardens, and growing initiatives

Councils are required to actively promote and support allotments, community gardens, and other “grow‑your‑own” initiatives.
Transfer or lease land/buildings to community bodies at less than market value to achieve community benefit

Councils can transfer or lease land and buildings to community organisations for less than market value, provided doing so creates a clear benefit to the local area.
Promote and improve the wellbeing of place and people

Councils should promote and improve the wellbeing of their area and its people. This means taking actions that enhance social, economic, environmental, and cultural outcomes for communities.
Respond to community participation requests

Councils have a responsibility to give communities a formal route to influence decisions.
Provide feedback on engagement outcomes

Councils must let people know how their views have been considered after public engagement or consultation.
Promote participatory budgeting

Councils should encourage and support communities to have a direct say in how public funds are spent.
Prepare and submit a scheme for the establishment of community councils

Councils must create a plan (called a “scheme”) for setting up community councils in their area and send it to Scottish Ministers for approval.
Support community councils and local groups

Councils should assist community councils and local community groups by providing advice, guidance, and resources that help them represent residents effectively.
Ensure inclusion and remove barriers for seldom-heard or disadvantaged groups

Councils must make sure all community members can participate in engagement and decision-making, especially those who are rarely heard or face disadvantage.
Assess community learning and development (CLD) needs

Councils should assess community learning and development (CLD) needs to understand the skills, knowledge, and support required by local people and groups.
Publish a three‑year community learning and development plan

Councils should publish a three-year plan to set out how they will support learning opportunities and community capacity building.
Coordinate CLD provision across providers

Councils should coordinate CLD provision across providers to ensure that learning opportunities and community development activities are delivered effectively and without duplication.
Support lifelong learning opportunities for adults

Councils should support lifelong learning opportunities for adults to help individuals develop skills, improve employability, and enhance personal wellbeing.
Provide youth work and family learning opportunities

Councils should support young people’s personal development and strengthen family relationships through education.
Work in partnership with third-sector organisations and other providers

Councils should work in partnership with third-sector organisations and other providers to deliver community learning and development services effectively.
Administer and enforce the Blue Badge scheme

Councils are responsible for running and managing the Blue Badge scheme.
Regulate public processions

Councils must manage and oversee public parades and processions.
Impose conditions or prohibit public processions

Councils can set conditions on a procession or prohibit it altogether if it would cause serious disruption, risk to public safety, or place an unreasonable burden on policing.
Ensure safe and compliant public events

Councils must help ensure public events are safe and legally compliant.
Designate Firework Control Zones

Councils can create Firework Control Zones in specific places within their area.
Maintain an asbestos register and management plan

Councils are responsible for managing asbestos in non-domestic premises they own or control.
Maintain and manage local exhaust ventilation systems

Councils must ensure that any local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems, such as fume cupboards, used to control exposure to hazardous substances are properly maintained and tested.
Ensure gas safety in council premises

Councils must make sure all gas appliances, fittings, and flues in properties they own or manage are safe.
Coordinate and deliver local domestic abuse support

Councils are responsible for organising and providing help for people affected by domestic abuse within their area.
Set and enforce management rules for council land and premises

Councils can create management rules to regulate how people use council-owned land and buildings that are open to the public.
Manage and enforce rules for council-controlled public premises

Councis are responsible for ensuring that all public buildings and spaces owned or leased by the council are operated safely, fairly, and in accordance with agreed standards.
Undertake and record fire alarm testing in public buildings

Councils must regularly check that fire alarms in public buildings work properly and keep a record of these checks.
Ensure electrical systems in council premises are safe, inspected, and maintained

Councils must ensure that electrical wiring and equipment in buildings they own or manage are safe and properly maintained.
Carry out fire risk assessments and maintain fire precautions and emergency procedures

Councils must carry out fire risk assessments and maintain fire safety measures in buildings they own or manage.
Undertake and record legionella testing and maintain water safety compliance

Councils have a responsibility to manage the risk of Legionella bacteria in water systems within buildings they own or control.
Manage Community Payback Orders (CPOs)

Councils must supervise and deliver the components of Community Payback Orders (CPOs), which may include unpaid work, behaviour programmes, or treatment for addiction.
Consider Diversion from Prosecution as an alternative to formal prosecutorial action

Councils work with prosecutors to divert people away from formal court proceedings.
Support Restriction of Liberty Orders (RLOs)

Councils must assess individuals to help courts decide if a Restriction of Liberty Order (RLO) is appropriate.
Provide Appropriate Adult Services

Councils must provide an Appropriate Adult to support vulnerable people, like young adults or those with learning difficulties, when they are being questioned by the police.
Create an anti-social behaviour strategy

Councils are required to work with Police Scotland and other partners to develop a clear plan for tackling anti-social behaviour in their area.
Support community-led cultural projects

Councils can help build vibrant, inclusive communities by supporting cultural projects that are led by local people.
Maintain and manage school buildings

Councils must ensure that school buildings are safe, clean, and fit for learning.
Maintain safe and compliant premises and equipment

Councils must ensure that the premises and equipment of all educational establishments under its management meet the standards and requirements applicable to those establishments.
Provide a crematorium or enter into arrangements for external provision

Councils can operate their own crematorium facilities or work with external providers to ensure cremation services are available to the public.
Arrange burial or cremation where no other arrangements are being made

If someone dies or is found dead in a council’s area, or is receiving help from the council, and no one else is arranging the funeral, the council must step in.
Provide public toilets

Councils can choose to build, maintain, and equip public toilets and provision usually depends on factors like local demand, available funding, and wider priorities.
Provide janitorial services

Councils can provide janitorial services for schools and other council buildings.
Provide and maintain lighting in common property

Owners of common property - such as shared stairs, passages, or private courts - have a statutory duty to provide and maintain adequate lighting in those areas.