Taking forward community partnership in Badenoch and Strathspey

Councillors have today (Tuesday 6 September) shown their support for the new Badenoch and Strathspey 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 Badenoch and Strathspey. 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 Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Councillor Bill Lobban said: “The idea behind the new Community Partnership is a more local approach to decision making, with partners working effectively together to address local issues and priorities.  There will now be a greater focus on the Badenoch and Strathspey area and making localism and community empowerment meaningful for our communities here. We are all committed to making the new arrangements work and look forward to the new opportunities they will bring.”