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:

1. Community Board Executive Committee develop position paper

2. Community Boards sign Localist Declaration

3. Community Boards adopt Board Charters

4. Councils recognise and support capability of Community Boards

5. Community Boards develop Community Plans.