Taking forward community partnership in Nairnshire and Ardersier

Taking forward community partnership in Nairnshire and Ardersier

Councillors have today (21 September) welcomed the creation of a new Nairnshire and Ardersier Community Partnership which will be launched this autumn and will play a key role in taking forward local planning arrangements.

The Highland Community Planning Partnership Board agreed at their meeting on 30th June to establish 9 local partnerships across the Highlands, including one in Nairnshire and Ardersier. These partnerships will provide a focus for local discussion, engagement with communities and identifying priorities for the local area.

Under the terms of the Community Empowerment Act, community planning is to become a shared duty facilitated by Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS Highland and The Highland Council.  Along with representation from the Third Sector, community planning will also involve a further 10 partners including SNH, SEPA, the Scottish Sports Council, HITRANS, Skills Development Scotland and Visit Scotland.

The Community Partnership will replace the current District Partnership arrangements which covered Badenoch and Strathspey, Ardersier and Nairn together, and its core remit will be to:

• Develop Local Plans for Children and Adults

• Develop Locality Plans/Community Learning and Development plans focusing on communities facing the greatest level of inequality as a result of socio-economic disadvantage

• Identify local actions and priorities

During today’s Area Committee, members had the chance to discuss progress and reaffirm their commitment to the new arrangements. 

Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, Councillor Michael Green said: “The new Community Partnerships are about a more local approach to decision making, with partners working together to address local issues and priorities.  This new Community Partnership will focus on the Nairnshire and Ardersier areas and will drive forward community empowerment for our communities. Representatives of Community Councils will need to be represented as an equal partner in the new structure. We, as local members, are all committed to making the new arrangements work and look forward to greater involvement of local people in decision making.”