A to Z Index:

Theme Forums

We will report on progress here as our five theme forums and local community planning groups become more firmly established.

Theme forums:

top of pageCommunity Wellbeing

The following groups are represented in this theme:

Public Health, Community Safety, Health and Social Care, Children, Substance Misuse, Health and Homelessness, Domestic Abuse, Housing and Rural Transport.

These groups will work to ensure an integrated approach to work on this theme. The overarching plan for this theme is the Joint Health Improvement Plan (JHIP). The first JHIP was published in 2003 and the second (2007-10) is about to be printed by a multi-agency group.

The Community Wellbeing theme lead organisation, NHS Grampian, is currently looking at the best ways to progress working of a theme forum and to ensure all relevant groups have an opportunity to participate.

For more information please contact community.planning@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Lifelong Learning

The Aberdeenshire Community Learning and Development Partnership takes on the role as the Lifelong Learning Theme Forum.

The partnership has three major sub-groups - the Adult Literacies Partnership (ALP), Building Community Capacity, and the Youth Work Partnership.

  • As the current Community Learning and Development Strategy ends this year, work has begun on a new strategy for 2008-2011.
  • HMIe have recently undertaken their How Good Is Our Community Learning and Development 2 Inspection.
  • A multi-agency group is piloting community profiles in each of the 6 areas of Aberdeenshire. These will be reviewed in January, but the long term goal is to have a profile for each community in Aberdeenshire.

In addition, the forum is involved with the following strategies:

  • National Youth Work Strategy
  • NEET Strategy
  • Youth Engagement Strategy
  • ESOL Strategy
  • Skills Strategy
  • All Our Futures Report

For more information on lifelong learning please view the Aberdeenshire Council community learning and developmenttop of pagewebpages or email cld@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Jobs and the Economy

The Jobs and the Economy Theme Forum comprises the Aberdeenshire members of the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum (ACSEF). Through ACSEF the theme forum is currently looking at the following priority projects:

  • ACSEF launched the Regional Identity Brand Initiative to promote Aberdeen City and Shire in unified and motivating manner.
  • The Next Generation Initiative has been launched.
  • A farm Business Advisor has been recruited to co-ordinate potential funding opportunities.
  • A series of Ask the Expert workshops have been delivered aimed at developing the skills and knowledge base of rural SMEs.
  • A strategy has been prepared for the development and review of flexible employment land and workspace.
  • In terms of tourism, the NESTOUR strategy was revised, the Banff Marina and feasibility work into the creation of a Royal Deeside resort location are both progressing.
  • Community Enterprise is encouraged through the development of a scheme to support bulk procurement of Registered Social Landlord to encompass a major new training programme aligned to the construction industry.
  • The Profit Without Subsidy toolkit developed to encourage farm businesses to examine best practice examples.
  • Business Gateway helped develop over 900 new business starts in Aberdeen City and Shire in 2005/06.
  • Ongoing liaison with the universities to bring graduates and employers closer.

ACSEF have recently published their economic manifesto that outlines their targets up until 2025.

For more information please contact community.planning@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

top of pageSustainable Environment

The Sustainable Environment Theme Forum is a forum for Aberdeenshire wide organisations with an interest in reducing resource use, protecting our environment, combating climate change and conserving and enhancing biodiversity.

Aberdeenshire Council acts as the lead body for the Sustainable Environment Theme Forum. You can find general advice on sustainability, and many of the themes that will be explored in the Theme Forum by visiting Aberdeenshire Council's Green Living website.

The forum had its first meeting in January 2007. Issues discussed included the Climate Change Declaration, carbon management and ecological footprinting.

The next meeting of the forum is expected to take place in November 2007.

For more information about the Sustainable Environment Theme Forum and forthcoming meetings contact green.living@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Developing Our Partnership

This theme is provisionally led by the Local Rural Partnership representative who sits on the Community Planning Executive, namely the Buchan Development Partnership.

At October 2007, this forum is concentrating on:

  • Developing a new Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership website. A developer has been chosen and is currently working with us in the technical and creative stages of the new site.
  • Banners, business cards and headed paper.
  • A new logo. Aberdeen Foyer have designed a new logo for the partnership.
  • Theme Indicators. The forum is hoping to develop indicators to measure our performance during a session in November.

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