Holyrood Committee to Explore Community Wealth Building Success on Isle of Cumbrae

The visit will allow Committee members to learn about key examples of Community Wealth Building (CWB) in North Ayrshire. The Scottish Government has carried out a consultation on its plans to introduce legislation on CWB, which the Committee will scrutinise when it comes before Parliament.

CWB is focused on growing the influence communities have on the economy and ensuring communities receive more of the benefits from the wealth they help to generate.

The Committee will meet with the Leader of North Ayrshire Council, Councillor Marie Burns, Depute Leader Cllr Shaun Macaulay, as well as members of the Council’s Executive Leadership Team and officials.

The visit will see the Committee meet with several local businesses and organisations, all of which contribute to the island’s community wealth-building initiatives.

Members will visit Millport Town Hall, Cumbrae Distillers and Jack's Alt Stays to see examples of community wealth building in practice and learn more about the Island’s development plans.

Ahead of the visit, Ariane Burgess MSP, Convener of the Local Government, Housing, and Planning Committee said:

"We are eagerly looking forward to exploring the remarkable examples of Community Wealth Building in North Ayrshire on our visit to Cumbrae.

“An enhanced focus on Community Wealth Building in communities like this one are crucial in supporting sustainable development and I am excited to witness first-hand the positive impact these initiatives have had on the Island.

“The visit promises to offer invaluable insights into the implementation of Community Wealth Building principles, which can potentially help shape the future of North Ayrshire and communities across Scotland, something we will scrutinise in detail when the Scottish Government’s Bill comes before the Committee”

Councillor Marie Burns, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “Our Community Wealth Building journey is moving along at pace and we were delighted to welcome the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing, and Planning Committee to Cumbrae.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for us to highlight some of the work being carried out in Cumbrae and show them examples of how Community Wealth Building is making a difference to our communities.

“We were the first Council to adopt this economic model and it is now embedded into everything we do in North Ayrshire.  We hope our experience and knowledge can be used to shape national policy moving forward.”