Local Community Plan Marr 2016-2019 Action Plan This document is a supporting document to the Marr Community Plan 2016–19, it provides information on what we are doing as partners in order to meet the priorities of the plan. The Action Plan will be reviewed at approximately eight week intervals by Marr Community Planning Group at regular meetings. Completed actions will be removed and new actions added throughout the three year life of this plan. The current Action Plan including all updates can be found at www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/Marr. If you wish to discuss the plan, or the potential to add a new action to the plan, please contact the Marr Community Planning Officer at the Marr Area Office on 019755 64801. Monitoring the Plan Actions will be SMART, that is they will be specific and measurable and attainable. Clear milestones and timescales will be set for actions along with identified outcomes, outputs and impacts. In order to be transparent a six monthly monitoring document will be actively shared with all Marr Community Councils. If other groups or organisations would like to receive the monitoring, they can request this. The monitoring information will be available at www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/marr where any interested parties can access it. 1 Local Community Plan 2016-2019 Marr Priority 1 Empowered and Confident Communities Key Outcomes: Marr’s communities are 1. Communities are empowered to achieve better local outcomes successful, innovative and 2. Community Planning is seen as the process for getting local priorities actioned inclusive 3. Communities are supported to develop and deliver a vision for their area 4. Communities and individuals have the confidence to participate in local democratic structures What we will do 1.1 We will work with Community groups to improve representation and involvement in the Community Planning Process/ Marr Community Planning Group How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will define and complete a review on the arrangements April 2017. Community Planning Officer Review through which communities are represented on the MCPG. (Aberdeenshire Council) Completed MCPG Establish Community Representatives Numbers of representatives The MCP 2016 – 19 update will be emailed to Community June and Community Planning Officer Emails out Councils and groups every 6 months and responses gathered. December (Aberdeenshire Council) Responses These will be presented to the twice yearly Marr Joint every year MCPG gathered Meetings. 2 Local Community Plan Marr 2016-2019 How? When? Who? Outcome Progress Update and responses presented at Joint meeting We will provide a platform for local communities and the MCPG Every 3 Marr Area Partnership Up to 12 ward to improve the effectiveness of community planning at a very months forums per year MCPG local level through the continued development of the Community Ward Forums in Marr’s 3 wards. Aberdeenshire Council staff will attend a meeting of each of Once per year Marr Area Office Staff CC meetings Marr’s Community Councils. attended (Aberdeenshire Council) 1.2 We will enhance youth engagement and involvement in the Community Planning Process How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will complete an audit of young people’s involvement in April 2017 CLD/MCPG Audit completed the community planning process and Community Councils. We will develop an action plan for young people to participate November CLD Young people in community planning activities, including ward forums on the 2017 attend ward Marr Area Partnership basis of work carried out with young people between November forums 2016 and October 2017. MCPG Young people attend and contribute to Community Planning activities/events Action Plan in place. 3 Local Community Plan 2016-2019 Marr 1.3 We will work with communities and Community Councils to ensure they are equipped with the skills and resources required to operate effectively How? When? Who? Outcome Progress All new Community Council members will be made aware of Quarterly MAP/AVA 75% of new training opportunities. promotion of CC Aberdeenshire Council opportunities members will undertake online training modules We will work with Community Councils and other organisations to April 2019 Develop identify what kind of training opportunities they would like to see Training and will develop a programme to be delivered through Community programme Ward Forums and other means. Deliver Training programme 1.4 We will support communities to understand, participate and take advantage of opportunities around legislative changes How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will organise a local meeting/event to inform community April 2017 Marr Area Partnership Event held groups of the opportunities provided for them by the Community MCPG Feedback Empowerment Act and discuss with them what this might mean in Marr We will organise a Marr wide meeting/event focused on the Land December Marr Area Partnership Event held Reform Act 2017 MCPG Feedback 1.5 We will support and empower communities to develop and deliver a vision for their local area 4 Local Community Plan Marr 2016-2019 How? When? Who? Outcome Progress Up to 6 communities will be supported to develop, review or April 2019 Marr Area Partnership SLA with deliver a Community Action Plan (CAP). MAP MCPG Progress report 2 x yearly Published CAP’s We will provide support and advice to communities, we will also April 2019 Aberdeenshire Council Number of provide funding opportunities for projects projects Aberdeenshire Voluntary supported Action Funding Marr Area Partnership approved NHS Grampian 5 Local Community Plan 2016-2019 Marr Priority 2 Economically Vibrant Communities Key Outcomes: The economic sustainability 5. Town and village centres are regenerated and/or revitalised through effective partnership working of communities in Marr will 6. Support for small scale tourism infrastructure in communities across Marr is enhanced be enhanced 7. Communities are supported to identify and develop community based enterprises 8. Communities are supported to develop and enhance their facilities 9. Communities are involved in assessing the need for local affordable housing and/or delivering Community Based Housing opportunities. 10. Awareness of funding opportunities is enhanced to support economic development + diversification e.g. LEADER, Wind farms etc. What we will do 2.1 We will work with communities to develop partnership solutions for town and village centre regeneration and revitalisation. How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will work with partners in Huntly to develop a strategy to April 2019 HDDT Town Team in revitalise/regenerate the town centre. place Huntly Community Council New Aberdeenshire Council Economies Huntly Business Association Project complete Deveron Arts Town Strategy in complete 6 Local Community Plan Marr 2016-2019 How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will work with Donside Community Council and other local April 2017 Aberdeenshire Council Car park partners to improve the Alford Car Park, including relining the relined Donside Community Council facility and providing new information maps for visitors. Visitor information maps in place We will work with the Lumsden Community to support them to April 2019 Lumsden Community Design for revitalise the village square and the area around it, providing Association playpark improved play/sport facilities. agreed Aberdeenshire Council Final Plan for MAP square agreed Funding in place Works complete We will work with the Banchory Town Improvement Group To December Area Project Officer, South Agree signage develop a signage and interpretation strategy with the aim of 2016 Marr, Aberdeenshire Council proposal enhancing the town centre. Implement signage strategy We will work with the community to reinstate Ballater Station November Aberdeenshire Council Ballater Visitor Centre following a fire in May 2015, provide an enhanced 2016 appoint Station Visitor Victoria and Albert Halls cultural heritage offering, a restaurant, improved contractor Centre is Committee community/library facilities and develop a new civic space in constructed December the form of a Station Square. Community Stakeholders on time 2016 Constructions A new civic site start space -Station Square is October 2017 completed. Construction completed 7 Local Community Plan 2016-2019 Marr How? When? Who? Outcome Progress December 2017 official opening We will carry out an options appraisal on the display of the November Aberdeenshire Council Options Tullich Stones (Scheduled Monument at Tullich Kirk). In order to 2017 appraisal achieve this, we will consult with Historic Environment Scotland complete (HES) We will develop a Banchory Town Strategy to guide future December Aberdeenshire Council Banchory planning for the provision of services and facilities within the 2016 Town Strategy Community Planning Partners town completed We will support the community and private partners to work to December RICL Before and improve the long term sustainability of Lumsden as a community 2017 after Lumsden Community both environmentally and economically. measurements Association of fuel Aberdeenshire Council poverty and carbon footprint Key community buildings insulated A combined heat and power plant in place Agreements on community benefit from income of plant in place. 8 Local Community Plan Marr 2016-2019 2.2 Communities will be supported to identify and develop opportunities for community based enterprises How? When? Who? Outcome Progress We will support Huntly and District Development Trust to deliver a April 2019