Islands plan
THE Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership (OHCPP) has published its key strategic priorities for the Western Isles for the next 10 to 20 years.
THE Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership (OHCPP) has published its key strategic priorities for the Western Isles for the next 10 to 20 years.
The OHCPP has also published a draft locality plan online for Benbecula and North Uist.
The OHCPP is the group that brings together agencies from across the Outer Hebrides with the common purpose of improving the lives of people and communities of the islands as set out in the Community Empowerment Scotland Act of 2015.
The OHCPP’s vision is to promote and realise the full potential of the Outer Hebrides as a prosperous, well-educated and healthy community, enjoying a good quality of life and fully realising the benefits of their natural environment and cultural values.
The key strategic priorities are:
❒ The Outer Hebrides retain and attract people to ensure a sustainable population;
❒ The Outer Hebrides have sustainable economic growth and people have access to appropriate employment opportunities;
❒ The Outer Hebrides offer attractive opportunities that improve the quality of life, wellbeing and health.
The strategic priorities were agreed by the OHCPP in May and provide a focus and reflect the areas where the partnership is striving to make maximum impact and improve outcomes in the face of the key challenges over the next 10 years.
OHCPP chairman Norman A MacDonald said: ‘Community engagement and analysis through the How Good Is Our Place survey enabled residents in the islands to identify their priorities and areas where they thought things could be better. Responding to this work, the OHCPP has proposed priorities which focus on improvement and these are presented in this Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP).
‘Involving people in the decisions that have an impact on their lives and empowering communities to help themselves is vital and, while the LOIP is for the whole of the islands, we have identified two areas – Benbecula and North Uist, and Stornoway West – where additional focused effort is required to improve outcomes.
‘This is really building on the Outer Hebrides’ traditional strengths of community, local engagement and partnership and is a commitment to empower our communities in delivering the services and aspirations they deserve.’
Rachel Mackenzie, area manager for Highland and Islands Enterprise, said: ‘HIE is delighted to be chairing the Sustainable Economic Growth priority group and we look forward to working closely with our partners towards achieving greater sustainable economic growth within the Outer Hebrides.’
Both Benbecula and North Uist, and Stornoway West areas are experiencing poorer outcomes and less improvement in outcomes than other areas within the Outer Hebrides.
The OHCPP will be engaging further with the community in Stornoway about the extent of the area to be covered by that plan. The locality plan for Stornoway West is being developed and will be issued later.
Dr Maggie Watts, director of public health, NHS Western Isles, said: ‘When we look at eight key features of small areas, including fuel poverty, child poverty and early deaths, which can be compared across Scotland and apply them to the Outer Hebrides, we see Benbecula and North Uist is identified as the second most vulnerable area within the Outer Hebrides after Stornoway West.
‘Earlier this year we asked people to complete a survey about How Good is our Place. We have used the consultation responses and the discussions in community meetings held in North Uist and Benbecula aided by third sector colleagues to identify priorities for action for North Uist and Benbecula.’
The priority areas for North
Uist and Benbecula have been identified as:
❒ Housing for families and small and medium enterprise ideas in North Uist;
❒ Care and maintenance – Balivanich;
❒ Actions supported by the Uist Economic Forum;
❒ Working in partnership with the community to find solutions.
Residents of Balivanich and North Uist are being asked to comment by October 31 to info@ ohcpp.org.uk.
The full documents can be accessed here: http://www.ohcpp. org.uk/