---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 14:48:03 +0100 GMT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Community Development Trusts - UK government i Community Development Trusts - UK government invites views Powers to control local services may be given to new locally-run 'community development trusts' set up to spearhead the drive against unemployment, ill health and deprivation in some of the country's poorest areas. The proposal is a leading option among a series of measures to be considered by Scottish Office ministers as part of their campaign to tackle "social exclusion", Labour's new catch-all term for the most deprived sectors of society. A consultation paper seeking views on government proposals to target welfare, housing and health services for the poorest was unveiled on 2nd February by Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar when he visited Castlemilk housing estate in Glasgow. Lord Sewel, the junior minister heading a new "social exclusion network" of senior civil servants, said the initiative was the centre-piece of the government's welfare and social strategies. "I want this to be a shared objective throughout the whole of Scottish public life, involving the local authorities, voluntary organisations, government agencies and all political parties," he told Scotland on Sunday. "I don't want to get into a partisan posturing position on this." The document did not make specific proposals but asked a series of open-ended questions that ministers hope will produce radical proposals from welfare agencies, voluntary groups and industry. The two-month consultation will be followed by a 'social exclusion' summit in April or May. Ministers will, however, make clear that long-term unemployment, low quality and damp housing, poor health, truancy, and low academic achievement are core issues to be tackled. One new strategy would see the model of a residential housing association extended to cover entire estates, allowing local communities to control their own welfare services, employment projects or education units. These community development trusts would need to be carefully regulated and controlled, said Jim Hastie, of the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum, one of Dewar's advisors. Source: Severin Carrell, Scotland on Sunday 1 Feb 98
