Ross and Cromarty local priorities confirmed

Local strategic priorities for Ross and Cromarty which reflects the geographical diversity of the area has been approved by members to ensure that local needs and issues are taken into account by the Council as a whole.

Building on the localism agenda and the increased delegation of decision making to local committees, the Committee adopted Area Priorities for the first time in October 2016. Following on from last year’s council election, it was felt that now would be a good time to revisit these priorities and refresh them after discussions with Ross and Cromarty ward councillors.

The local priorities reflect the Council’s Programme: Local Voices – Highland Choices and are themed around: a place to live; a place to learn; a place to thrive and a welcoming place. They are listed under a number of headings that include transport and infrastructure, tourism, economic development, housing, education, community engagement and health and wellbeing. Some require partnership working locally, for example through community partnerships and others focus on working with and lobbying other public bodies.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Fiona Robertson said: “Discussions on the refreshed priorities have been taking place at a Ward level and reflect some of the work already underway in communities that local councillors are involved with so it was good today to come together as a committee and discuss them.”

Further work will be done to identify how the local priorities agreed can be supported by staff and other Council resources. This will include considering how best to measure progress.

Cllr Robertson added: “We need to monitor progress closely but having the priorities will help us to focus our work and resources as they reflect the uniqueness and geographical diversity of our communities and the aspirations of those who live, work and holiday in Ross and Cromarty.”

The Ross and Cromarty Committee priorities are:

Transport and Infrastructure

• Developing and improving the road network, including working with partners to improve the safety of junctions.
• Working with Hi Trans to seek improved cycle routes throughout Ross and Cromarty
• Understand the potential for community transport and encourage communities to explore/develop community transport initiatives.
• Supporting communities and businesses to have improved broadband access and connectivity. Ensure up to date awareness of Broadband provision/issues via HIE and Community Broadband Scotland including updates re potential to use the SWAN Network and examples of best practice.
• Seek improved infrastructure. Lobby the Scottish Government/partners as appropriate to support key infrastructure - e.g. to support Stromeferry By-pass solution and the re-opening of Evanton Railway station

Economic development

• Work with our partners to explore and support inward investment with a focus on town and village centre regeneration, where appropriate.
• Promote the opportunities for sustainable economic development e.g.as provided by the Wester Ross Biosphere

Tourism

• Promote tourism, for example by promoting the NC500 route across the whole of Ross and Cromarty.
• Support improved infrastructure e.g. via identification of potential revenue sources/ commercial or community opportunities/community asset transfers or buyouts.
• Consider how the growing cruise industry affects Invergordon and surrounding area and prepare a masterplan for the town, along with appropriate partners.

Housing

• Work with officers and Council House tenants to achieve the improvement of Council Houses, Estates and the surrounding environment.
• Promote improved condition of the common areas on housing estates including:

a) Supporting the work of Community wardens and

b) Ensuring clarity of responsibility between Community Services and Housing work within housing estates

Education

• Ensure education estate provision is fit for purpose for nursery, primary, secondary and special school pupils across the Ross and Cromarty area with members able to scrutinise the progress and cost of local projects regularly.

Community Engagement and Community Planning

• Support effective local Community Planning Partnerships which enable and support communities and community involvement in them.

Health and Wellbeing

• Ensure sufficient information around key care provision and capacity including community initiatives and examples of good practice
• Ensure sufficient scrutiny of key services for adults and children which support health and wellbeing.

Community Services and Waste

• Maximise local decision making across both revenue and capital CS budgets with the aim of delivering the right balance of preventative and response work.
• Explore potential to redistribute disaggregated budgets to permit the funding of village officers where this is a local priority.

Localism

• Ensuring that revenue and capital budgets are disaggregated to the true local level and information brought timeously and in such a way as to maximise members’ ability to influence priorities and outcomes.