Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 - Allotments Waiting List Register
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 18 December 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 18 December 2025 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 - Allotments Waiting List Register 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The purpose of this paper is to update the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on the actions that are being undertaken in response to duties placed on the Council under Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 which provides a legal framework that promotes and encourages community empowerment and participation in growing food. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee consider the Allotments Waiting List Register update which reflects the duties placed on local authorities arising from Part 9– Allotments of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Council’s Business Continuity Committee on 16 April 2020 adopted Argyll and Bute’s first Community Food Growing Strategy. The Strategy’s vision is to encourage and enable people in our community, who wish to grow their own food, by providing information on potential community food growing spaces, advice and guidance. 3.2 Developing the Strategy was a duty placed on the council by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, which requires each local authority to produce a food growing strategy. It also places a duty on the council to establish and maintain an allotments waiting list register and to produce an allotments report for the area each year. 3.3 At the time of preparing this report 218 individuals are included on the Register. Area Number of Individuals on the register - 2025 Bute and Cowal 63 Helensburgh & Lomond 94
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Area Number of Individuals on the register - 2025 Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands 31 Oban Lorn & The Isles 30 3.4 Argyll and Bute Council has three allotment sites (as defined by the Act which are those on Local Authority land) one in Helensburgh and two in Rothesay. They are each managed by allotment associations, with spaces offered to individuals when they become available. Other Community Food Growing Spaces such as community gardens and schools exist within a number of mainland and island sites which are managed by local dedicated community members and school groups. 3.5 As the Council does not currently directly manage allotments, Legal and Regulatory Support Officers have established relationships with allotment sites and other land owners. With agreement from those that have submitted their details these are then passed to these independently managed sites in anticipation of securing land for the purposes of growing food. 3.6 In order to complement the Community Food Growing Strategy Legal and Regulatory Support provide a dedicated community growing spaces website, which can be accessed by following this LINK (https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/community-growing-spaces). The website holds useful information relating to Community Empowerment, including allotment legislation and guidance for community groups who are interested in growing their own food. 3.9 Officers are committed to giving advice and support to individuals’ and groups to encourage and enable people wishing to grow their own food. There is a webpage detailing how to submit an expression of interest in using council assets, which can be accessed by following this LINK. 3.10 There are also various examples of food growing initiatives being taken forward by third sector partners within Argyll and Bute. Dunoon Community Development Trust, for example, have developed a shared food growing project in the grounds of Struan Lodge Residential and Daycare Centre in Dunoon under a license for use from Argyll and Bute Council. 3.11 The Development Trust secured £31k from Argyll and Bute UK Shared Prosperity Fund Transitional Year Investment Plan for 2025/26 which was used to develop ten growing beds and two polytunnels, alongside accessible pathways, seating and shelters. This project demonstrates the value of taking a partnership approach with place-based third sector organisations to maximise the use of council owned land. The project not only increases biodiversity, volunteer action and local food
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growing, it also provides direct health and wellbeing benefits to volunteers, care home residents, families and staff. The Development Trust are also exploring options to develop a therapeutic garden for the care home alongside the food growing space, if funding and partner support can be identified. 3.12 As part of Argyll & Bute Climate Action Network, Dunoon Community Development Trust also supports Cowal Food & Growing Network, a gathering of groups and individuals involved in food growing and gardening. Informal meetings provide an opportunity to learn about each initiative, explore shared challenges and consider joint action. 3.13 South Kintyre Development Trust formed Kintyre Climate Action in 2023 which incorporates Kintyre Grows, a community growing project focused around The Gateway Garden. The garden site had become a disused and neglected space but with the support of volunteers, local business and financial grants the garden has become a growing hub. The main large beds are allocated to a variety of local community groups, including nurseries, a childminders partnership, The Link Club, The Woodlands Centre, the Grammar School and a Bangladeshi Growers Group. 3.14 The garden also includes smaller individual starter plots for people looking to start growing their own food but with no access to their own growing space. The polycrub (polytunnel/greenhouse hybrid) extends the growing season and allows for a greater variety of crops to be produced. The garden is also an educational resource to support new growers and enthuse more members of the community to grow their own food, for both environmental and health benefits. 3.15 The Isle of Luing Community Trust recently secured support from Community Led Local Development and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to transform derelict land behind Cullipool village into a vibrant, productive community garden. This initiative forms part of the wider ‘Taste of Luing’ project, which celebrates locally sourced food and traditional skills through the Atlantic Islands Centre. 3.16 Reclaiming the site was a major community effort with accessible pathways, improved drainage, and constructed polycrubs, sheds, and fencing installed, with raised beds soon to follow. A new composting facility supports the ‘RecycLuing’ initiative, and the Luing Growers volunteer group have been central to this transformation. Residents and visitors alike have responded enthusiastically, with volunteers clearing ground, digging post holes, strimming, and building all garden structures. The Community Trust look forward to harvesting their first crops next year and expanding the range of food growing opportunities for local residents.
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4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 The adoption of the Argyll and Bute Council Community Food Growing Strategy met the Council’s duty under Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, officers continue to provide information to support and signpost individuals and community groups who wish to grow their own food. 5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – None 5.2 Financial – None 5.3 Legal – Meeting our duty to produce a Food Growing Strategy, Allotment Waiting List and Rules and Regulations under Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 5.4 HR – None 5.5 Customer Service – None 5.6 Risk - Failure to report the Allotments Waiting List Register means we do not fulfil our duties placed on local authorities arising from Part 9 – Allotments of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. 5.7 Climate Change – None 5.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – None 5.9 Equalities – protected characteristics – None 5.10 Consumer Duty – None 5.11 Island Communities – None 5.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support November 2025 For further information contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Telephone 01436 658717 - stuart.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk