South Aberdeenshire Local Development Strategy – Executive Summary The South Aberdeenshire Local Development Strategy (SALDS) sets out a vision for South Aberdeenshire from 2014 to 2020. This vision has been developed through extensive community and stakeholder engagement and analysis of other key strategies. Resources will be made available to deliver the SALDS, mainly from the European Union (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund) and the Scottish Government. These Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programmes will replace and build upon the previous Rural LEADER and Aberdeenshire European Fisheries Fund programmes. The South Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (SALAG) has been established to manage and animate the rural development elements of the strategy and its funds, with fisheries elements being managed and animated by the North East Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group (NESFLAG). Both partnerships bring together a range of community, private and public-sector organisations. SALAG Membership Community Public Private Aberdeenshire Voluntary Aberdeenshire Council Aberdeen & Grampian Action Chamber of Commerce Garioch Community Forestry Commission Federation of Small Councils Businesses The Garioch Partnership NHS Grampian National Farmers’ Union Scotland Kincardineshire Scotland’s Rural College Scottish Land and Development Partnership Estates Marr Local Community Scottish Enterprise Visit Aberdeenshire Councils Marr Rural Partnership Scottish Natural Heritage Visit Royal Deeside Visit Scotland 1 NESFLAG Membership Community Public Private Fisheries Banffshire Aberdeenshire Aberdeen & Aberdeen Partnership Council Grampian Producers’ Chamber of Association Commerce Angus Council Banffshire Coast Mackay Boat Tourism Builders Partnership Fraserburgh Scottish Enterprise Federation of North East Scotland Development Trust Small Businesses Fisheries Organisation Kincardineshire Scottish Maritime P&J Johnstone Development Academy Partnership Visit Scotland Peterhead and Fraserburgh Fish Producers’ Association Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishing Scottish Fishermens’ Organisation Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association Seafood Scotland Scottish Seafood Association Rix Shipping (Scotland) Ltd. 2 North East Coast Region Inshore Fisheries Group Seafish Camann II BF160 The South Aberdeenshire area broadly corresponds to the administrative areas of Garioch, Kincardine and Mearns and Marr (excluding the Cairngorms National Park Area). All communities within the SALDS area will be eligible for support from rural development funding, with fisheries funding targeted on Gourdon, Inverbervie, Johnshaven, St. Cyrus and Stonehaven. Two Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses have been carried out: Rural SWOT Strengths Weaknesses High quality of life Public transport High skills base Road network connections between High levels of education villages Low levels of unemployment Broadband Natural and diverse landscape Training and vocational opportunities including Natura Sites for young people Arts, culture and heritage of the area Quality and availability of affordable Vibrant voluntary sector with visitor accommodation experience of project delivery Facilities and services, especially in High rates of volunteering and civic remote rural areas pride High unemployment in fishing communities Opportunities Threats Using existing facilities (e.g. Lack of affordable housing to rent community halls, schools, sports and buy facilities) more creatively (e.g. Lack of affordable business spaces community ownership, multi-purpose Lack of key workers (carers, hubs) teachers) Building on key industries: tourism; Income inequality energy; food & drink; arts & culture. Public sector funding cuts Community transport Out-migration of young people Developing cycling and footpath Ageing population and pressure on networks services Danger of dormitory coastal towns 3 Declining town centres 4 Fisheries SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Stocks are healthy Poor promotion of locally-caught Diverse range of seafood seafood Big industry and strong brand Perception of industry as a (Scottish Seafood) single body rather than Unique products segmented by different products Marine Environment Lack of young entrants, skilled Coastline, wildlife and heritage workers and career progression Supply chain for locally- consumed fish Connectivity between communities Opportunities Threats Seafood as a healthy choice CFP reform Short supply chain Landing obligation Secondary processing Oil and gas pull Traceability/sustainability World affairs (e.g. Russian Education and promotion of import ban) career opportunities Environmental organisations and Promotion of the processing public perception sector Loss of local control and quotas Job opportunities moving Centre of excellence Revised EMFF structure – £40 million investment in potential duplication between Peterhead Harbour ‘Axis 4’ and others Diversifying coastal communities Definition of a fishing community into new business areas could exclude some settlements Ecotourism Economic viability of small Learn from successful harbours and returns on communities investments Use of redundant buildings Landing obligation could be Move beyond retail focus in costly to implement and use up communities entire programme budget Access to local employment and remote working eServices 5 The SALDS identifies the following themes and priorities: Connecting Developing Key Promoting and People and Economic protecting the Places Sectors environment Enriching and Cooperating with positive activities other countries for all and areas Theme 1: Connecting people and places Objective: By 2020, people who live and work in South Aberdeenshire are better connected, physically, emotionally and digitally, through a range of active, affordable and sustainable solutions. Initiatives under this theme would need to demonstrate how they contribute to the following priorities: Priority 1.1: Sustainable & active travel to connect rural communities (£50,000) Projects and initiatives which contribute to community transport initiatives, low carbon travel solutions and promote active travel such as walking and cycling will be supported. Priority 1.2: Community facilities for the modern age (£720,883.34) Multi-purpose and sustainable community hubs (e.g. for service provision, leisure and business) which have realistic business plans will be supported, particularly those which incorporate broadband and/or ICT provision. Theme 2: Developing key economic sectors Objective: By 2020, South Aberdeenshire realises its full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for its people provided through creating or enhancing micro and small and medium-sized rural and fisheries enterprises (including Social Enterprises), increasing the skills base and creating new jobs. 6 Initiatives under this theme would need to demonstrate how they contribute to enhancing and growing businesses in the priority sectors of Tourism, Food & Drink, Fisheries, Land-based, Retail and Creative Sectors. Initiatives under this theme would need to demonstrate how they contribute to the following priorities: Priority 2.1: Improving priority sector competitiveness and co-operation (£443,809.95) Projects/initiatives which build business capacity and skills; identify and develop new markets for products and services; and/or support new bespoke training initiatives to encourage business development in the priority sectors of tourism, food and drink, fisheries, land-based, retail and creative sectors will be supported. Priority 2.2: Supporting diversification inside or outside commercial fisheries (£153,259) Projects/initiatives which build business capacity and skills; identify and develop new markets for products and services; and/or support new bespoke training initiatives to encourage business development will be supported. Priority 2.3: Facilitating diversification within and outside of the fisheries sector (£76,017.30) Projects/initiatives which identify and develop new markets, infrastructure, products and services within or outside of the fisheries sector will be supported, as will projects which help small and declining fishing ports to maximise their marine potential through developing a diversified infrastructure. Priority 2.4: Creating jobs, attracting young people, encouraging lifelong learning and facilitating training in fisheries areas (£59,491.80) Projects/initiatives which create jobs, attract young people or provide training to enhance existing SMEs and assist in the start-up of new companies in fisheries areas will be supported. Priority 2.5: Adding value and promoting innovation at all stages of the fisheries seafood supply chain. (£59,491.80) Projects/initiatives which support measures to adapt to the landing obligation; new product and/or market development; the adoption or development of innovative processes and/or supply chain integration; and co-ordinate in a way which empowers local communities and makes the best use of their assets in fisheries areas will be supported. 7 8 Theme 3: Promoting and protecting the environment Objective: By 2020, South Aberdeenshire will be a lower carbon society that enjoys, conserves and makes the most of its natural environment and assets. Initiatives under this theme would need to demonstrate how they contribute to the following priorities: Priority 3.1: Promoting low carbon futures