The new national Duties and Powers Portal, developed as part of the SOLACE/Improvement Service Transformation Programme, is designed to make it easier to understand the extent of the duties and powers that local authorities have across Scotland.
Available at www.dutiesandpowers.scot the portal brings together hundreds of council duties and powers in one place, explaining what councils must do, and what they can do, and the legislation that underpins them.
It has been developed to support councils, partners, and the public by improving clarity, transparency and shared understanding of local government responsibilities.
The portal responds to a long‑standing challenge across the sector: information on council duties and powers is often spread across legislation, guidance, and local practice, making it difficult to see the full picture.
By presenting this information in a consistent, plain‑English format, the portal aims to support better conversations about capacity, funding, accountability and service demand.
Development of the portal has been highly collaborative. The Improvement Service has worked closely with councils, professional associations and national partners to shape the structure, terminology and content.
Early engagement and testing helped ensure the portal reflects how duties and powers operate in practice, not just in legislation.
The current release focuses on statutory duties and key powers across council service areas. Work will continue over the coming months to refine content, respond to user feedback, and explore how non‑statutory activity and locally‑determined services could be better captured in future iterations.
The Duties and Powers Portal is intended to be a living resource that grows alongside the sector. Colleagues across IS will continue working with councils and partners to develop it further and ensure it remains accurate, useful and relevant.