Pride in Place introduces long-term neighbourhood funding across Scotland at a time when councils, communities and partners are already working within complex, resource-constrained local systems.
While the scale of investment is significant, Pride in Place is best understood as a contribution to place rather than a complete strategy for local transformation. Its impact will depend less on what it funds in isolation and more on how effectively it connects with the wider ecosystem of plans, partnerships and investment already shaping local areas.
Scotland has deep experience in place-based working and community partnership. The leadership challenge now is ensuring Pride in Place draws on and strengthens those foundations, rather than creating parallel structures that add pressure or fragmentation.
This raises important system-level questions for local leaders and partners:
- How can Pride in Place funding be supported by strong local evidence and shared priorities, enabling communities to make informed choices about long-term impact rather than short-term visible activity?
- How can this investment align with other funding streams, timelines and governance arrangements so it supports a coherent local strategy rather than operating as a standalone programme?
- What enabling conditions need attention, delivery capacity, shared intelligence, trusted relationships and effective governance, to ensure funding lands in strong local systems rather than overstretched ones?
- And how should emerging neighbourhood governance arrangements connect clearly with democratic accountability and existing place-based decision-making?
In this webinar, Des Murray, Chief Executive at North Lanarkshire Council and Alan Webb, Chief Executive at Dumfries and Galloway TSI, will reflect from local government and the third sector on leading through these tensions in practice.
The discussion will focus on how councils and partners can act as enablers; supporting community-led decisions while connecting Pride in Place investment into the wider place system.
