These two questions are at the heart of this 2018 research project by Callum Hammond and David Hammond.
Community Boards were set up in 1989 through the local government reforms of the Fourth Labour Government, providing local representation to populations facing amalgamation into larger units.
Now, 30 years later, this report investigates the effectiveness of Community Boards and makes five recommendations for the future:
Community Board Executive Committee develop position paper
Community Boards sign Localist Declaration
Community Boards adopt Board Charters
Councils recognise and support capability of Community Boards
Community Boards develop Community Plans.