A to Z Index:

Economic Development Strategy

The work of the Economic Development section within the Council is guided by the Aberdeenshire Council's Economic Development Strategy which provides a framework for economic development activity within the Council. The last Economic Development Strategy of Aberdeenshire Council covered the three-year period 1997 - 2001. This Strategy will cover the six-year period 2001 - 2007 but will be reviewed after three years.

The Council recognises that it is one of several agencies carrying out economic development in Aberdeenshire. Therefore, as the resources within Aberdeenshire Council are limited the aim of the Strategy will be to work in partnership where possible and concentrate on those areas in which we can make the most difference.

At the national level the new Parliament in Edinburgh has taken its responsibility for economic development in Scotland very seriously. In 2000 a strategy entitled Framework for Economic Development in Scotland was produced, as were reviews of the enterprise network and the delivery of economic development services in Scotland.

The major change from these reviews that affected the Councils in Scotland was the directive to set up Local Economic Forums to jointly handle business support.

Subsequently, a Local Economic Forum has been set up to enable the joint delivery of business support from development agencies in the North East. Aberdeenshire Council is committed to being a lead player in this partnership.

The work of these bodies will sit under the overarching framework of the Community Plan for Aberdeenshire, as will this Strategy and other important documents such as the Structure Plan and the Local Transport Strategy.

The document begins by stating our vision, outlining the strategic objectives of the new Strategy and describing how these strategic objectives will be achieved. Then the economic context will be considered and issues of the Aberdeenshire business infrastructure.

The issues raised in these two chapters have been used, along with the results of widespread consultation, to draw up the strategic objectives. In the final section on resources we look at the tools that are needed to achieve our goals.