THIS REPORT RELATES COUNCIL TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA

RESOURCES COMMITTEE CIVIC SERVICES

14 JANUARY 1999 NOT EXEMPT

LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

CONSULTATION ON EXTENDING AREA FORUM COVERAGE

1 PURPOSE

1.1 To report on the outcome of consultation on the options for including , Ashfield and and the North West Highland area within Area Forum coverage and invite the Committee to determine the configuration and timescale for extending Area Forum coverage in these areas.

2 SUMMARY

2.1 At its meeting held on 8 October, the Council approved its strategy for the promotion of Local Democracy and Community Leadership to the year 2001. One of the decisions taken was that the Council would consult on the options for including Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck and the North West Highland area within Area Forum coverage by the end of 1998. It was also agreed that the preferred options would be implemented by the end of March 1999.

2.2 During late November/early December, public meetings were held in Dunblane, , , , Aberfoyle and . A household poll in the Dunblane, Ashfield, Kinbuck, Doune and Deanston areas was commissioned to ascertain these communities’ preferred options for Area Forum coverage.

2.3 The consultation period finished on 26 November 1998. The poll closed on 4 December 1998. On 10 December the Council agreed that it be remitted to a Special meeting of the Resources Committee to be held early in 1999, to take into account any resource implications of a decision to extend Area Forum coverage in the North West Highland and Dunblane areas in line with the outcome of the recent consultation in these areas.

3 RECOMMENDATION(S)

3.1 The Committee is asked to:-

3.1.1 note the views expressed during the recent consultation in the Dunblane and North West Highland areas and the outcome of the household poll in the Dunblane, Ashfield, Kinbuck, Doune and Deanston areas as detailed in appendix 1,

3.1.2 determine how Area Forum coverage for the Dunblane and North West Highland areas should be configured as a consequence of the outcome of the consultation; and

3.1.3 dependent on the Council’s decision to extend Area Forum coverage, whether there is a need for further, selective consultation in the Callander area (para. 4.10 refers).

4 CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 When the Council approved its Scheme of Decentralisation in May 1997, a commitment was given that Area Forum coverage would be extended to the North West Highland, Dunblane and Eastern Villages areas.

4.2 The Council has always been sensitive to the way in which certain geographic communities identify strongly with others. Consequently, when the Council approved the next phases of its strategy for the promotion of Local Democracy and Community Leadership at its meeting on 8 October, it was agreed that there would be further consultation on the options for including Dunblane and the North West Highland area within Area Forum coverage and that this consultation would take place by the end of 1998 with the preferred options being implemented by the end of March 1999.

4.3 Dunblane Ashfield and Kinbuck - It was previously considered more appropriate that Area Forum boundaries should encompass several Community Council areas. Consequently, the communities of Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck were consulted on the two options which seemed to suggest themselves specifically, an area based around Doune, Deanston, Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck, or the incorporation of Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck within the area of the existing , and Causewayhead Area Forum.

4.4 These two options were the subject of household poll in the areas concerned. The poll closed on 4 December 1998. A public meeting also took place in Dunblane on 25 November 1998.

4.5 Doune and Deanston - These communities could either be incorporated in an Area Forum along with Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck, or be part of whatever was proposed for the North west Highland area.

4.6 A public meeting took place in Doune on 24 November. A household poll was also conducted in Doune and Deanston on the two options referred to in Appendix 1. The poll closed on 4 December 1998.

4.7 North West Highland Area - The North West Highland area is a large and diverse one and proposals to establish an Area Forum in this region have previously met with a variety of responses. These have ranged from opposition to the concept of Forums, concern about how one Forum could possibly cover such a large and diverse area and suspicion about the role of Forums in relation to Community Councils through to whole-hearted endorsement of the proposal.

Demsupp/Decision/Reports/Resourcs/Areaf.doc 4.8 Members may recall that the recent MORI Resident’s Survey results confirmed that, of those surveyed, 72% of people were in favour of introducing Forums where these do not yet exist. More than half of those surveyed said that they would be fairly likely to attend Forum meetings, with 3% saying they would be certain to attend such meetings.

Public meetings took place in:-

Strathyre - 26 November 1998 Callander - 1 December 1998 Aberfoyle - 2 December 1998 Crianlarich - 3 December 1998.

The results of these consultations are detailed in Appendix 1.

CONCLUSIONS

4.9 Dunblane Area: The outcome of the public meeting would seem to suggest an Area Forum for the Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck area. This conflicts with the result of the household poll, although it should be noted that this option was not covered in the poll. An Area Forum for Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck would be a deviation from the Council’s original view that Area Forums should cover more than one Community Council area.

4.10 Doune and Deanston: The outcome of the public meeting would seem to suggest that Doune and Deanston should be part of whatever arrangements are made for the North West Highland area, although, again, this conflicts with the household poll.

4.11 North West Highland Area: As mentioned previously, there are issues surrounding the relative size and diversity of this area and, in particular, issues of transportation particularly during winter months.

4.12 On balance and given the feedback at the public meetings it is suggested that this area requires more than one Area Forum and that the preferred option is for three Forums as follows:-

4.12.1 Area north of Leny Falls covered by , and Strathfillan Community Councils.

4.12.2 Callander, Doune, Deanston, Thornhill, Blairdrummond and Brig O’Turk.

4.12.3 , Aberfoyle, , Stronachlachar and .

4.13 As detailed in the Appendix, correspondence has been received from both the Strathard and Callander Community Councils, each of which do not support the establishment of an Area Forum covering their area. A request was made by those attending the meeting in Callander for further consultation on boundary issues. It is suggested that three forums be progressed by early Summer 1999, in line with the boundaries proposed at the meetings in Strathyre and Crainlarich (see above at paras 4.9.1-3) but that as a precursor to the establishment of a Forum covering Callander, households in the Callander area (other than in Doune and Deanston) be polled as to their views on the principle to establish a Forum covering their area and on the proposed boundaries.

Demsupp/Decision/Reports/Resourcs/Areaf.doc 5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The establishment of Area Forums for the Dunblane and North West Highland area by early Summer 1999 will conclude the Council’s commitment to ensure Area Forum coverage for the whole of the Stirling area. The potential to hold such meetings throughout the Stirling Council area will make a significant contribution to the Council’s aim to encourage, enable and empower citizens to participate in decisions effecting their communities and ensuring local democratic accountability for Council Services.

5.2 Sound Governance has been identified by the Government as one of the four essential elements in achieving “best value”. Comprehensive Area Forum coverage would be a key resource seeking customers and citizens feedback to ensure continuous improvement in the delivery of quality services which are efficient and effective in meeting the Council’s aims and objectives as well as the needs and aspirations of local people.

6 CONSULTATIONS

6.1 This report has been based on consultation with the communities of Dunblane, Ashfield, Kinbuck, Doune, Deanston and the residents of the North West Highland area who attended the public meetings in Strathyre, Callander, Aberfoyle and Crianlarich.

7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

7.1 The Council has previously decided to approve the appointment of an additional Committee Officer and Support Officer within Civic Services specifically to support the extension of Area Forum coverage. No further resources will be required by Civic Services.

7.2 The extension of Area Forum coverage as suggested in this report will have significant implications for all Council Services both in terms of officer attendance at meetings and in terms of dealing with enquiries and issues raised at Forums. The additional burden in terms of attendance at meetings could to some extent be mitigated by limiting the number of meetings of both new and existing Area Forums.

7.3 Currently, the Council has a commitment to hold at least 4 meetings a year of each Area Forum. Area Forums are however meeting 5/6 times per year. Given the transportation issues for the North West Highland area in particular and the weather conditions experienced by these communities over the winter months, it is suggested that meetings in these areas and in the Forth Endrick and Blane Valley area should be held during March - October with a recess over the winter period (i.e. November - February). It is further suggested that these Area Forums should meet no more than three times per year with other Area Forums meeting no more than four times per year. The total number of Area Forum meetings to be supported would therefore be 28 per year, or just over two per month.

7.4 It is also considered that the extension of Area Forum coverage to the Council’s whole area should allow public consultation meetings to be focused on the Area Forums rather than the ad hoc arrangements which are currently

Demsupp/Decision/Reports/Resourcs/Areaf.doc made to deal with particular issues. If Services can be encouraged to use Area Forums in this way there should be some saving in officers’ time that is currently spent on ad hoc public meetings.

7.5 It is suggested that by restricting the number of meetings which will take place in any one year, the staff time to be spent in supporting these meetings will not be unreasonable. That there will be increased work in responding to the issues raised at these meetings is not undisputed and the fact that the Council needs to improve the means by which it responds to such issues has already been highlighted when the Council approved its Strategy in October. Nevertheless, it will only be through the Council demonstrating that there are perceived and recognisable benefits for those living in the area through attendance at Area Forum and other meetings, that the Council will succeed in its aim to increase public participation in decisions affecting its local and wider communities.

8 BACKGROUND PAPERS

8.1 Report to Stirling Council: Promoting Local Democracy and Community Leadership - 8 October 1998.

Demsupp/Decision/Reports/Resourcs/Areaf.doc Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension

Fiona Matheson Democratic Services 01786 443351 Manager

Approved by Name Designation Signature

Bob Jack Director of Civic Services

Date 21 December 1998 Reference Demsupp/Decision/Reports Resources/Areaf.doc

Demsupp/Decision/Reports/Resourcs/Areaf.doc