THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA

STIRLING COUNCIL CIVIC SERVICES

10 December 1998 NOT EXEMPT

LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

CONSULTATION ON EXTENDING AREA FORUM COVERAGE

1 PURPOSE

1.1 To update the Council on the progress of consultation on the options for including Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck and the North West Highland area within Area Forum coverage.

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, Doune, Strathyre, Callander, Aberfoyle and Crianlarich. 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. Consequently, details of the outcome of both the consultation and the household poll will be reported to Council on 10 December when the Council will be asked to determine how Area Forum coverage should be extended to the North West Highland and Dunblane areas.

3 RECOMMENDATION(S)

3.1 The Council is asked to determine:-

3.1.1 how Area Forum coverage for the Dunblane and North West Highland areas should be configured; and 3.1.2 dependent on the Council’s decision to extend Area Forum coverage, whether there is a need for further, selective consultation.

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 however. Consequently, when the Council approved the next phases of its strategy for the promotion of Local Democracy and Community Leadership at its last meeting, 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 is considered more appropriate that Area Forum boundaries should encompass several Community Council areas. Consequently, the communities of Dunblane, Ashfield and Kinbuck have been 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 Bridge of Allan, Blairlogie and Causewayhead Area Forum. These two options were the subject of poll of 75% of the households in the five areas concerned. The poll closed on 4 December 1998. Public meetings also took place in Doune on 24 November 1998 and Dunblane on 25 November 1998. The results will be reported to Council on 10 December 1998.

4.4 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. 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 will be reported to Council on 10 December 1998. 5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The establishment of Area Forums for the Dunblane and North West Highland area by the end of March 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 The report to Council on 10 December will be 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 specifically to support the extension of Area Forum coverage. Dependant on the outcome of the consultation and the Council’s decision as to how Area Forum coverage should be extended, there may be implications for other Officers and Members in terms of the requirement to Chair/attend these.

8 BACKGROUND PAPERS

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

EXTAF2.DOC