CPP Board
North Ayrshire Council · 6 November 2024
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 6 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 6 November 2024 Council Title: North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board: Annual Report & Minutes of Meetings held in June and October 2024 Purpose: To submit the CPP Annual Report and overviews of the meetings of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board held on 11 June and 4 October 2024. Recommendation: That Council notes the overviews and report contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 It was previously agreed that the Minutes of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board be submitted to North Ayrshire Council for information. The key matters arising from the minutes, as well as a copy of the CPP Annual Report for 2023/24 which is required as part of the Community Empowerment Act 2015, have been highlighted for the attention of Council and are detailed in Section 2.1 below. 2. Background 2.1 Overviews of the meetings of the CPP Board held on 11 June and 4 October 2024 are provided at Appendices 1 and 2. Both meetings took the form of rotating workshops on topics relating to the North Ayrshire Partnership Plan priorities of Wellbeing, Work and World. CPP partners were given the opportunity to attend each workshop in turn to learn about the work of each project, report or service as relevant. Meeting of 11 June 2024 Agenda Item 3 CPP partners attended the three workshops outlined below: • The new North Ayrshire Green Health Framework- (Link to LOIP priorities Wellbeing, Work and World) Greenspace Scotland and colleagues from Public Health provided CPP partners with an overview of the process to develop the new Green Health Framework along with the key themes and content. Green health is about the positive impact that nature and the outdoor environment have on our physical and mental health. It’s all
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about getting people out to walk, cycle, grow, garden and connect with others for their benefit. The key objectives of the Framework link to the CPP partnership priorities of Work, Wellbeing and World. CPP Partners agreed to endorse the new Framework. • The North Ayrshire Climate Change Steering Group (Links to LOIP World priority) Partners were provided an overview of the work of the North Ayrshire Climate Change Steering Group, which is the key strategic group delivering on the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan ‘World’ priority. This included community and Council support, the transition to a decarbonised fleet, utilising landfill gas and exploring hydrogen production for heating and vehicle use, strategies to support local food production and make better use of derelict land and the development of Community Climate Change Action Plans. • Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan (Links to LOIP Wellbeing and Work priorities) Community Justice Ayrshire is a partnership focused on preventing and reducing reoffending across the Ayrshire region. It brings together various partners to work collaboratively towards this goal. Partners were given an overview of the current work of the Partnership and the new Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan (CJOIP) which has four main aims: • Optimising early diversion and intervention • Ensuring consistent availability of high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements • Providing accessible services to address the needs of accused or convicted individuals • Strengthening leadership, engagement, and partnership among community justice partners Meeting of 4 October 2024 Agenda Item 3 CPP partners attended the two workshops outlined below: • Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board- (Link to LOIP priorities Wellbeing, Work and World) An overview was provided of work around mapping current partner activity, joint working and services across child poverty priorities and an increased focus on the balance between preventative and operational interventions. A discussion followed around the governance related to Child Poverty and Cost of Living. Recognising the high priority of this work, it was agreed to formalise Child Poverty and Cost of Living as a workstream of the Community Planning Partnership Senior Officers Group, with regular reporting to the CPP Board through an updated governance framework. • North Ayrshire Corporate Parenting (Links to LOIP priorities Wellbeing and Work) Partners were provided an overview of the work of the North Ayrshire Corporate Parenting Team. This included The Promise and Promise Champions, signposting information, Care Experienced Week and weekly drop-ins, the Annual Conference 2023, the Anti-Discrimination & Stigma Policy and the Champions Board 2019
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Language Research. Discussion centred around opportunities for partnership working, including development of a CPP action plan focusing on Corporate Parenting. CPP Annual Report At the meeting of the CPP Board in June 2024 the CPP Board heard an update on the co-development of the Community Planning Annual Report 2023/24 with the CPP Senior Officers Group. This process includes an annual performance workshop, the collection of case studies and data for measures in use and in development. This activity fed into development of the final report, which comprises four key sections: • The Golden Thread: This section outlines how the work of our CPP links with the National Performance Framework • Local Outcomes Improvement Plan priorities: This section looks at our three LOIP priorities of Wellbeing, Work and World, setting out what we want to achieve, what national and local measures are telling us and highlighting key partnership working taking place during 2023/24. • Locality Partnerships: This section provides an overview of each of our six locality partnerships including their priorities, grant decisions and key focuses for the year ahead. • Our Impact: This section takes a look over the past 10 years and highlights key impact statements from Best Value, CLD Review and Carnegie Trusts reports. The report was then circulated to the CPP Board for final comments on the content and structure and has been provided for information at Appendix 3. 3. Proposals 3.1 That the Council notes the workshop overviews and report contained in Appendices 1, 2 and 3. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 None. Human Resources 4.2 None. Legal 4.3 None. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None. Environmental and Sustainability
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4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 The CPP activities detailed within this report support the North Ayrshire Partnership Plan. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. 5. Consultation 5.1 No consultation was required. David W. Hammond Executive Director Communities and Housing For further information please contact Jacqui Greenlees, Senior Manager (Policy, Performance and Community Planning), on 01294 324415. Background Papers Appendix: 1 CPP Board Overview, 11 June 2024 Appendix: 2 CPP Board Overview, 4 October 2024 Appendix: 3 CPP Annual Report 2023/24
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Community Planning Partnership Board Tuesday 11 June 2024 at 11.15 am Fullarton Connexions Present North Ayrshire Council Cllr Marie Burns, Elected Member (Chair) Cllr John Bell, Elected Member Cllr Scott Davidson, Elected Member Cllr Alan Hill, Elected Member Cllr Shaun Macaulay, Elected Member Cllr Margaret Johnson, Elected Member Sam Anson Executive Director David Hammond, Executive Director Rhonda Leith, Head of Service Department of Work and Pensions Pamela Holmes, Customer Service Lead NHS Ayrshire and Arran Lisa Davidson, Assistant Director (Public Health) Police Scotland Chief Supt Raymond Higgins Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Ian McMeekin, Local Senior Officer Scottish Partnership for Transport Allan Comrie, Senior Transport Planner Skills Development Scotland Claire Tooze, Area Manager In Attendance Jacqui Greenlees (NAC), Lesley Forsyth (NAC), Jennifer McGee (NAC), Jennifer Wraith (NAC), Kirsty Baker (Community Justice Ayrshire), Lynne Pearson (NAC), Jennifer Wraith (NAC), Elaine Caldow NHS), Gillian Jennings (NHS), Emma Halliday (Greenspace Scotland). Apologies Vicki Yuill (Arran CVS), Craig Hatton (NAC), Caroline Cameron, (NAHSCP), Cllr Timothy Billings, Elected Member, Julie McLachlan, (Scottish Government), Cllr Amanda Kerr (NAC), Kaileigh Brown (TSI). Angela Cox (Ayrshire College). 1. Welcome and Apologies The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies for absence were noted. 2. Minute of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the Board meeting held in March 2024 were approved.
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3. CPP Board Rotating Workshops At this point Partners were given the opportunity to attend three rotating workshops linked with the work of the Community Planning Partnership: Green Health Framework- Gillian Jennings and Elaine Caldow, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and Emma Halliday, Greenspace Scotland (Links to LOIP Wellbeing, Work and World) Gillian Jennings and Elaine Caldow (Public Health) and Emma Halliday (Greenspace Scotland) provided an overview and update on development of the North Ayrshire Green Health Framework and sought endorsement from the CPP Board. What is Green Health and what are the benefits? Green health is about the positive impact that nature and the outdoor environment have on our physical and mental health. It’s all about getting people out to walk, cycle, grow, garden and connect with others for their benefit. Why is Green Health Important? We are currently facing rising health inequalities in our country, the past decade has seen the long- standing trend of population health improvement slow, stall and more recently move into reverse. We have the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss alongside a cost-of-living crisis and reduced public sector funding. Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. The more we ignore the climate emergency the bigger the impact will be on health and people living in poverty in Scotland are more affected by the environmental crises than those who are not. The activities, initiatives and the infrastructure required to deliver green health can provide many co- benefits beyond improving our health and wellbeing. Many of the interventions required to mitigate and adapt bring enormous benefits for human health and wellbeing in the form of cleaner air, healthier diets, and more liveable places. Framework Development The North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership has initiated, piloted and delivered a lot over the past 5 years. The partnership has raised awareness of green health amongst individuals and health practitioners; it has increased participation in green health activities and has started the path toward mainstreaming a nature-based green health approach. Initial stakeholder mapping and policy and evidence reviews were followed by engagement sessions with the Green Health Partnership, CPP Senior Officers Group and CPP Board on key achievements and current activities as well as proposed content of the Framework. The North Ayrshire Green Health Framework The vision of “North Ayrshire people get outside and active in good quality, nature filled greenspaces that improve their wellbeing, build their skills and benefit our planet.” Has been outlined in the Green Health Framework underpinned by four principles: • Collaborative • Inclusive • Realistic • Innovative Five goals have been prioritised from the workshop feedback, conversations and meetings with multiple stakeholders. Three align to the Local Outcome Improvement Plan themes of Wellbeing, Work and World, and the remaining two are cross-cutting across all themes. 1. Wellbeing Support the development of green health across North Ayrshire enabling more people to improve their health and wellbeing. 2. Work Nurture volunteering, skills development and employment in nature conservation, food growing and citizen science. 3. World Ensure green health initiatives and infrastructure contribute to addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. 4. Continue the Green Health Partnership working approach.
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5. Sustain the current level of communications about green health activities and services. Partners were positive about the contents of the Green Health Framework and the development work with partners and key stakeholders. Partners were happy to endorse the new North Ayrshire Green Health Framework. The document and appendices can be accessed at https://northayrshire.community/reports/na-green-health/ Climate Change Steering Group- Jennifer Wraith (Links to LOIP World) Jennifer Wraith, Senior Manager (Energy & Sustainability) provided each group with a session on the Climate Change Steering Group. The presentation highlighted: Community and Council Support: • The council provides significant support through various funds and strategies, including the Community Regeneration Enablement Fund and initiatives for solar farms. • Community climate change action plans are in development, drawing on lessons learned from projects like the Stevenson Carbon Neutral School, with a focus on expanding community groups and enhancing carbon literacy. Carbon Neutral and Renewable Energy: • Efforts include integrating renewable energy and aiming for carbon neutrality. The council is working on strategies to support local food production and make better use of derelict land. • The Nature and Biodiversity Office is part of this team to address climate change. Transportation and Infrastructure: • Transitioning to a decarbonised fleet, including upgrading to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and increasing electric vehicle charge points. • A £3.2 million investment for more charge points in East and South Ayrshire is planned, with a long-term lease arrangement. Waste Management and Energy: • Utilising landfill gas and exploring hydrogen production for heating and vehicle use. • Assessing options for green hydrogen production and split. Adaptation and Community Involvement: • A Scotland project involves mapping environmental issues and promoting active travel and green spaces. • Emphasis on community involvement, carbon literacy training, and filtering lessons to local groups. Opportunities and Support: • Identifying ways to better support community climate action, understanding needs, and addressing barriers to effective support. The focus overall is on enhancing community engagement, advancing renewable energy, improving infrastructure, and promoting sustainable practices to address climate challenges. Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan- Kirsty Baker (Links to LOIP Wellbeing and Work)
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Kirsty Baker, Manager Community Justice Ayrshire provided each group with a presentation which focussed on working together to break the cycle of offending. The presentation highlighted: Community Justice Ayrshire Partnership Community Justice Ayrshire is a partnership focused on preventing and reducing reoffending across the Ayrshire region. It brings together various partners to work collaboratively towards this goal. Definition and Approach Community justice is an approach where individuals who have broken the law are held accountable while being supported to reconnect with and contribute to their communities. This can involve various methods such as unpaid work, fines, addiction treatment, or restrictions like curfews and electronic tagging. Statutory Requirements Each Community Justice Authority in Scotland is required to develop a partnership plan. In Ayrshire, this takes the form of the Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan (CJOIP) for 2024-2029, published in April 2024. This plan outlines how partners will collaborate to achieve national aims and outcomes for community justice across Ayrshire. The CJOIP Aims The CJOIP focuses on four main aims: 1. Optimising early diversion and intervention 2. Ensuring consistent availability of high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements 3. Providing accessible services to address the needs of accused or convicted individuals 4. Strengthening leadership, engagement, and partnership among community justice partners Imprisonment Rates and Effectiveness Scotland has one of the highest imprisonment rates in Western Europe, with 131.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. Evidence suggests that short custodial sentences are less effective at reducing reoffending compared to community sentences. Individuals released from short custodial sentences (12 months or less) are more likely to be reconvicted than those serving Community Payback Orders (CPOs). Presumption Against Short Sentences The Presumption Against Short Periods of Imprisonment (Scotland) Order 2019 extended the presumption against short sentences from less than 3 months to 12 months or less. This aligns with the government's aim to reserve prison for serious or dangerous offenders and to use short imprisonment only when no alternatives are available. Employment and Reoffending The presentation emphasised the significant role employment plays in reducing reoffending. Being employed is associated with improved self-esteem, resilience, positive social connections, and a lower likelihood of reoffending. Ongoing Initiatives.
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The presentation also touched on ongoing work related to community reintegration and emergency release, highlighting the partnership's commitment to supporting individuals throughout their justice journey K Baker asked Partners to consider four key questions: • What support do partners already provide to people at different stages of the justice system? • What could be done to raise awareness and confidence in community justice? • Are there further opportunities for partnership working? • Is there anything else we should be focussing our efforts towards? Throughout the group discussion the following matters were discussed: Cllr Johnson queried what North Ayrshire Council’s position was on recruiting those who have convictions. K Baker highlighted that the Council has recently achieved "Recruit with Conviction" Ambassador status and will work to break down barriers between ex-offenders and job opportunities. Those applying for roles will be asked at interview whether they have any convictions rather than beforehand and an online module has been created for all hiring managers. R Leith highlighted that education/literacy levels can link with offending and it is a conversation needed with SPS to address need around this matter. D Hammond highlighted that the importance of the Housing First approach and how this needs to continue for those leaving prison setting. D Hammond also queried the process for having a piece of work carried out by the Community Payback Team. K Baker highlighted that the Team at the CPO office will be able to advise further 4. Partner Updates There were no partner updates highlighted. 5. AOCB No items were raised. The next meeting of the North Ayrshire CPP Board will be held on Friday 4 October 2024 at 9.00 am with venue tbc.
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Community Planning Partnership Board Friday 4 October 2024 at 9am Garnock Committee Room, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE Present North Ayrshire Council Cllr Marie Burns, Elected Member (Chair) Cllr Shaun Macaulay, Elected Member Cllr Margaret Johnson, Elected Member Sam Anson Executive Director David Hammond, Executive Director Rhonda Leith, Head of Service Ayrshire College Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive Department of Work and Pensions Pauline Craig, Regional Lead NHS Ayrshire and Arran Linda Semple, Interim Chair NHS Ayrshire & Arran Board Lisa Davidson, Assistant Director (Public Health) Police Scotland Supt Stephen McGovern Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Ian McMeekin, Local Senior Officer Scottish Partnership for Transport Allan Comrie, Senior Transport Planner Skills Development Scotland Claire Tooze, Area Manager In Attendance Jacqui Greenlees (NAC), Jennifer McGee (NAC), Lynne Pearson (NAC), Jennifer Lewis (NAC) Apologies Vicki Yuill (Arran CVS), Craig Hatton (NAC), Caroline Cameron, (NAHSCP), Cllr Charles Currie (NAC), Cllr Amanda Kerr (NAC), Cllr John Bell (NAC) Kaileigh Brown (TSI), Chief Eleanor Passmore (Scottish Government), Cllr John Bell, Elected Member, Cllr Alan Hill, Elected Member, Cllr Scott Davidson (NAC), Claire Burden (NHS Ayrshire & Arran), Ashley Pringle (KA Leisure), Dean Anderson (DWP) 1. Welcome and Apologies The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies for absence were noted. 2. Minute of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the Board meeting held in June 2024 were approved. 3. CPP Board Rotating Workshops
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At this point Partners were given the opportunity to attend two rotating workshops linked with the work of the Community Planning Partnership: 1. Corporate Parenting – Jennifer Lewis, North Ayrshire Council (Links to LOIP Wellbeing, Work and World) Jennifer Lewis provided the CPP Board with an overview of the work of the North Ayrshire Council Corporate Parenting Team, a topic which has been requested by senior partners. Jennifer highlighted key areas of work: • Communication • Support for staff • Creating and supporting spaces for young persons voice Overviews were also provided on: • The Promise and Promise Champions • Signposting information • Care Experienced Week • Weekly Drop Ins • Annual Conference 2023 • Anti-Discrimination & Stigma Policy • Champions Board 2019 Language Research Discussion followed around how partners can link in with this work, including links with CPP Groups for example the Safer North Ayrshire Partnership and Community Engagement Network as well as wider areas of work with Chamber of Commerce and Local Employability Partnership. Several connections were made for further discussion, including links between the Corporate Parenting Team and SFRS. It was agreed that the CPP will develop an action plan around Corporate Parenting, with development starting at the next meeting of the Senior Officers Group with a session led by the Corporate Parenting Team. 2. Child Poverty & Cost of Living Board- Sam Anson (North Ayrshire Council) and David Hammond (North Ayrshire Council) (Links to LOIP Wellbeing, Work and World) Sam Anson, Executive Director (Education) and David Hammond, Executive Director (Communities & Housing) updated the CPP Board on the work and plans of the Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, as well as seeking discussion and endorsement of the approach going forward. They highlighted: • North Ayrshire has the 2nd highest rate of child poverty in Scotland. • The Child Poverty Board was established in 2022. • An overview of achievements of the Board to date. • Funding secured through Scottish Government Fairer Future Partnership. Funding will be provided for three full time posts for 18 months. • An overview of the work to date around Single Shared Assessment. An overview was provided of work starting around mapping current activity, joint working and services across child poverty priorities and an increased focus on the balance between preventative and operational interventions.
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It was highlighted that Glasgow Community Planning Partnership have developed a new Local Outcomes Improvement Plan which focuses solely on family poverty as a single priority for the CPP. It was agreed that a watching brief would be kept on this approach and the new document would be shared with the Board for information. A discussion followed around the governance related to Child Poverty and Cost of Living. Recognising the high priority of this work, it is proposed to formalise Child Poverty as a workstream of the Community Planning Partnership. This would include standing agenda items and regular reporting to the CPP Board through an updated governance framework. Partners were supportive of this proposal. 4. Draft Community Planning Annual Report 23/24 Jacqui Greenlees provided an overview of the co-development of the Community Planning Annual Report 2023/24 with the Senior Officers Group, including the annual performance workshop and collection of case studies and data for measures in development. The information and guidance collected at the performance workshop has been used to develop the report, which includes case studies focusing on partnership, high level and local data, overviews of locality partnership achievements and sections on the golden thread and long term CPP impact. The CPP Board approved the approach and agreed to provide any final comments on the draft report once circulated by email. 5. Partner Updates There were no partner updates highlighted. 6. AOCB J Greenlees reminded the CPP Board that North Ayrshire CPP have agreed to take part in a national self-assessment checklist led on by the Improvement Service to support the CPP to ensure that areas such as governance, accountability, leadership and performance management are fit for purpose to achieve the outcomes of the LOIP. The checklist is due to be circulated to Board members on 30th October for completion. The next meeting of the North Ayrshire CPP Board will be held on 5 December 2024 at 11.15am.
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1 North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2023/24
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2 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Our Partnership Plan 3. The Golden Thread 4. Priority 1: Wellbeing 5. Priority 2: Work 6. Priority 3: World 7. Locality Planning a. Arran b. Garnock Valley c. Irvine d. Kilwinning e. North Coast f. Three Towns 8. Our Impact 9. The Year Ahead 10. Contact us and link to evaluation survey
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3 1. Introduction Welcome to the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2023/24! Community Planning is the statutory framework through which local public services work together with communities and third sector organisations. We work to plan and deliver services that will improve long term outcomes and tackle inequalities. It is a legal duty within the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. There are main duties in the legislation that Community Planning Partnerships need to fulfil: This annual report outlines how North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is meeting these duties, provides an overview of our achievements across community and locality planning in 2023/24, and contains a summary of our plans for the year ahead. Partners work together in a Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Produce a Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) Develop Locality Plans Review and report publicly on progress
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4 2. Our Community Partnership Plan North Ayrshire CPP is made up of organisations and communities working together to plan and deliver better public services and to reduce inequality in North Ayrshire. Our key Community Planning Partners include:
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5 We work together on the three shared priorities of Wellbeing, Work and World set out in the North Ayrshire Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP). We call this our ‘Community Plan’. It is an eight-year plan that identifies how we as Community Planning partners will work with local communities, local businesses and the third sector to improve our agreed upon outcomes and achieve our vision of “North Ayrshire – Fair for All. We used the North Ayrshire strategic needs assessment, partner resources and expertise as well as public feedback to develop the LOIP. It was agreed by the Community Planning Board on 3rd March 2022. The Community Planning Board report on LOIP gives an overview of the development process and rationale for the plan. We also carried out a health impact assessment and equality impact assessment of the draft plan. Working in Partnership North Ayrshire Locality Conference 2024 and Democracy Matters In 2018, the Scottish Government launched Democracy Matters, a national conversation about how democracy can best work for our communities. The Scottish Government published a discussion paper in 2021 to prepare for phase two of Democracy Matters, which unfortunately had to be put on hold because of the pandemic. The second phase of the Democracy Matters national conversation gave people across Scotland the opportunity to come together in their communities to imagine how new and inclusive democratic processes can best help their town, village or neighbourhood. In February 2024 North Ayrshire CPP worked with the Scottish Government Democracy Matters team to deliver such an engagement session as the focus of the North Ayrshire Locality Conference, with over 50 community members and partners in attendance. This gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the consultation and plans for local democracy at a national level, as well as give their views directly to the Scottish Government team. The views from the day formed the official North Ayrshire response to Democracy Matters 2, and a follow up session will be arranged once the outcome of the consultation is published.
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6 3. The Golden Thread In addition to monitoring our impact locally, we want to ensure our approaches link nationally. The National Performance Framework measures Scotland’s progress against national outcomes. To do this, it uses ‘national indicators’ covering a wide range of themes including economy, community and environment. This infographic shows how our work as a CPP links in with national outcomes.
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7 We can also use the Improvement Service’s Community Planning Outcomes Profile (CPOP), a collection of measures designed to measure local outcomes and compare against similar communities using nationally available data. Our performance across the range of CPOP indicators shows general improvement across the ten-year period from 10/11 to 21/22 – 61% of measures within the CPOP have stayed stable or seen an improvement for North Ayrshire over the past 10 years.
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8 4. Priority 1: Wellbeing What do we want to do? We will reduce inequalities through targeted support to improve individual, family and community health and wellbeing. How are we delivering this? Established in December 2022, North Ayrshire’s Health Wellbeing Alliance builds on the existing efforts of partners across North Ayrshire to develop the strategic vision of the wellbeing agenda in North Ayrshire. The North Ayrshire Wellbeing Alliance will provide a multi-level leadership body in the development and delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) 2022 -2030 for North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (NACPP). Three priorities have been identified: Wellbeing, Work and World. The main objective of the ‘Wellbeing’ priority is to reduce inequalities through targeted support to improve individual, family and community health and wellbeing. The remit of this multi-level working body includes: • Tackle the inequalities related to wellbeing with a clear focus on early intervention and prevention and a whole system approach • Identify and create opportunities for innovation, improvement and efficiency • Facilitate co-produced solutions to promote equality and reduce health inequalities 1.1 Address Inequalities 1.1.1 Partnership working mitigates the health challenges for those most vulnerable in our communities. 1.1.2 Partnership working mitigates the financial challenges for those most vulnerable in our communities. 1.1.3 Children and young people’s wellbeing is improved through partnership working. 1.2 Enable Community Wellbeing 1.2.1 We have strong relationships within our communities to reduce social isolation and loneliness 1.2.2 A whole system approach is in place to ensure that people can access the right support at the right time (No Wrong Door). 1.2.3 People feel heard and that they have influence and a sense of control.
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9 • Provide visibility for the community health and wellbeing agenda for the residents and communities of North Ayrshire • Enable shared planning and identify gaps and overlaps in provision, whilst considering potential savings in activities where appropriate • Identify opportunities to access funding • Align all communication to the vision ensuring that the Wellbeing Alliance brand is recognised throughout North Ayrshire by its residents and communities. KA Leisure is leading on this pillar and building upon their well-established, sector leading Health and Wellbeing Service. A series of engagement events have been delivered since June 2023. Contributions, feedback and insight have been captured in this paper view here. To support the paper a short explainer animation can be viewed here.
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10 What is the data telling us? High Level Measures You can find more information about child poverty and demographic data in the North Ayrshire Child Poverty Action Plan 2023. Local Measures A more detailed overview of the grant funding decided by our Locality Partnerships is provided in the Locality Partnership profiles in chapter 7. Child Poverty 2022/23: 29.2% 2021/22: 29% 2020/21: 24.7% Life Expectancy 2019-21: Female- 52.1 years Male- 56.5 years 2017-19: Female- 52.1 years Male- 56.5 years 2016-18: Female- 52.1 years Male- 56.5 years People Living with Long Term Conditions 2023: 46,900 2022: 51,900 2021: 45,600 Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) 2024: 50.76 2022: 50.03 2020: 51.34 % feel neighbourhood a very good place to live 2024: 58% 2022: 59% 2020: 50% Local grant funding decided through locality partnerships (£) 2023/24: £158,148 2022/23: £154,750 2021/22: £92,167 Funding distributed through CIF (£) 2023/24: £564,007 2022/23: £648,804 2021/22: £648,298
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11 Working in Partnership Garnock Valley Taskforce Following a trend in youth disorder across the Garnock Valley a Wellbeing Task Force was established to develop the delivery programme of the North Ayrshire Health & Wellbeing Alliance and to align: • Diversionary opportunities for young people • Educational messaging on life choices and the dangers of substance misuse • Better links with local partners to provide more opportunities for young people to find their future pathway The main objective was to establish a new delivery team that can effectively reduce youth disorder. Using local intelligence, it was identified that an initial focus should be given to those disengaged within the education setting. These young people are often the same as those who are making bad choices within their communities, including anti-social behaviour. Stage 1 (Dec 23 – Apr 24) A pilot commenced in December 2023 using KA Leisure coaches and instructors who have focused on building relationships and developing trust. • Gather information on the young people’s interests and goals • Build confidence using sport and physical activity • Use fitness and sports delivery to develop transferable skills such as- o Goal setting o Discipline o Routine o Teamwork o Resilience All young people have completed KA Leisure’s Elevate Academy and received a 3- month fitness membership to continue their wellbeing journey out with school. Stage 2 (May – Jun 24) The second stage of the project will include support for the young people to develop projects for their local area and wider school community. This aim of this stage is to give the young people a sense of responsibility, a connection to their community, and new skills and experiences. This stage will also create opportunities for the community to see the qualities of our young people and bring them closer to our school community. Next Stages Working with further partners of KA Leisure to increase the engagement, range of opportunities and pathways for our young people. We will also explore further opportunities to promote pathways to community activities and learning. “Our programme has been devised to support young people in our community who find engaging with learning and the life of school a challenge. It is our aim to work in collaboration with KA staff to build confidence in these young people by helping them further develop their existing skills and discover new ones.
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12 Whilst the initial stages of the project have focussed on relationship building and basic fitness and teamwork, we aim to further embed their skills by encouraging them to give back to our Campus and Community through a variety of events and projects that they will plan, organise, promote and lead.” Debbie Gardner, Depute Head Teacher “The project has allowed us to use sport and physical activity as an outlet for pupils requiring additional support. As well as allowing the young people to release energy by being active, the time lets us engage them in educational messages. We are excited to further develop this project in the new academic year. This will involve the inclusion of further partners who will enhance the wellbeing of those involved and further integrate the school with the community.” PC Caroline Duffy, Garnock Community Campus Officer The North Ayrshire Community Directory The Community Planning Partnership website has been developed as a useful resource for community members to access key information and resources relating to the work of the Partnership, Locality Planning and community news, which was vital during Covid 19 pandemic. Building on the work developed during this time, including locality specific ‘Community Books’ that included information and contacts for community members in crisis, a Cost-of-Living section has been added to the CPP website including easy to access information and support. Building on this a unique community led North Ayrshire directory has been developed. The Directory uses open data through ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) to provide an up-to-date interactive directory of services, groups and contacts that can be updated locally by the community and used by those in crisis or looking for local support and services. The resource is hosted on the Community Planning website, and is being made available through the North Ayrshire Libraries app which will be re-launched as the ‘North Ayrshire Communities’ app to further ensure wide and easy access for our communities. Child Poverty & Cost of Living Board Our Partnership vision of ‘Fair for All’ is about championing and developing the positive aspects of life in North Ayrshire, whilst also tackling poverty and disadvantage in all its forms. The Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, which is chaired by the Leader of the Council and includes membership from across the CPP, was set up to help improve life for people and is supported by a Child Poverty and Cost-of-Living fund that was allocated by the Council in the 2023-24 budget.
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13 It is one of the key groups that support the North Ayrshire Local Outcomes Improvement Plan priorities of Wellbeing, Work and World. The Board regularly reports to the CPP Board, the CPP Senior Officers Group. More detail on key achievements and focuses on child poverty can be found in the North Ayrshire Child Poverty Action Plan 2023. CHAP Community Investment Funding CHAP is an OSCR registered charity and is a private limited company by guarantee, which has been operating in North Ayrshire for over 20 years, providing free, independent advice and advocacy services relating to housing, welfare rights, and debt issues. Following community engagement about the cost-of-living crisis, communities strongly expressed their need for support and a preference for outreach in community settings. At the start of 2023, Community Investment Funding through Three Towns Locality Partnership provided a fully trained advice worker to be based within 3 different community-based locations within the Three Towns area one day a week (with the other 2 days each week being office based for case work, training, etc.). This allowed individuals in the Three Towns area to access services in various established and trusted environments throughout their local area. CHAP advice services complement all the community work that is already taking place within the Three Towns area, including food provision services, the ‘warm hub’ at the Church of Nazarene in Ardrossan, West Coast Furniture and Ardrossan Community Sports Hub. In late 2023 Community Investment Funding via the Irvine Locality Partnership then delivered further CHAP services in North Ayrshire by establishing new advice worker outreach within local community settings throughout the Irvine area. Making these services accessible locally, in established and trusted environments, means that people can gain assistance with a variety of benefits, housing, and debt issues on their doorstep. This model has now proven successful in Kilwinning, Kilbirnie and the Three Towns areas.
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14 5. Priority 2: Work What do we want to do? We will address the causes and effects of poverty through a strong local economy and skills base. How are we delivering this? The North Ayrshire Local Employability Partnership (LEP) was re-established in 2017 and tasked with overseeing and guiding employability provision in North Ayrshire. The LEP is chaired by North Ayrshire Council, meets every 6 weeks, and is attended by the following partners: • North Ayrshire Council – employability and skills, business development, children/families/justice, community learning & development and education • Department For Work & Pensions • Skills Development Scotland • Ayrshire College • TACT - Third Sector Interface • Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce 2.1 Increase Employment 2.1.1 CPP partner and other local organisations contribute to an increased employment rate in the following groups: - People with a disability/long term health condition - Low income families - Long term unemployed people - People with convictions - People living in 0-15% SIMD Areas 2.2 Develop Volunteering 2.2.1 Our Community Planning Partnership provides opportunities for local people to gain experience and skills across our partner organisations. 2.3 Better support our young people to develop the skills they need to play a strong role in our local economy 2.3.1 The number of young people employed by CPP partner and other local organisations is increased. 2.3.2 Young people have access to a wide variety of employability opportunities in North Ayrshire. 2.3.3 Across our partnership care experienced young people are supported.
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15 The North Ayrshire LEP reports to the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and uses intelligence from the Provider Forum, chaired by Skills Development Scotland and the Practitioners Forum, Chaired by North Ayrshire Council to inform activities and priorities. Operational Delivery Groups around Young People, Inclusive Growth and Closing the Disability Employment Gap have been established and local organisations report to the LEP to maximise expertise and knowledge to identify gaps, opportunities and develop specific proposals and recommendations. This partnership structure and governance helps deliver transparency and accountability in ensuring citizens of North Ayrshire receive the best service and resources are used most effectively, where the greatest need exists to ensure no one is left behind.
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16 What is the data telling us? High Level Measures More detailed information of the labour market profile in North Ayrshire is available via NOMIS. Local Measures The number of volunteering opportunities collected are currently through North Ayrshire Connected Communities and the TSI, however the Community Planning Team are working on expanding this measure across the partners for 2024/25. Working Employment Rate 2023/24: 70.1% 2022/23: 71.3% 2021/22: 67.3% Unemployment Rate 2023/24: 4.3% 2022/23: 4.6% 2021/22: 5.3% Youth Employment Rate (Age16-24) 2023/24: 69.8% 2022/23: 69.8% 2021/22: 53.2% Number of Volunteering Opportunities 2023/24: 2,773 2022/23: 2,999 2021/22: 964 Positive Destinations 2023/24: Not yet available 2022/23: 96.5% 2021/22: 96%
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17 Working in Partnership Parental Employment Programme Almost 30 parents are on the road to workplace success thanks to a partnership with Third Sector employers. Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire teamed up with TACT to source a range of Third Sector employers to offer parents paid work experience placements. This initiative, called the Parental Employment Programme (PEP), secured placements from 18 different organisations including Ardrossan Community Development Trust, Beith Community Association, Beith Community Development Trust, Cunninghame Furniture Recycling, Irvine Community Sports Club, the Salvation Army and The Lennox Partnership. Following completion of the 6 months placement almost 50% of the participants were offered a contract of employment immediately. Successful participant Pamela Boyce is a mother-of-three who spent 12 years raising her family before deciding she would like to explore her work options. Pamela was matched with Beith Community Development Trust as secured the position of Business Support Assistant. Following her placement, Pamela was offered employed with Beith Community Development Trust. She said: “I am excited about the future, and I would highly recommend the Parental Employment Programme to any parents who want to access employment. “It has made a positive impact on my life and my family, and my children have commented on how proud they are of me and how much more energy I now have. They even joke about how my computer skills have improved! “The care and support I have received all through the process have been fantastic.” Employability Week North Ayrshire’s first ever Employability Week was just the job for people looking for work and training opportunities. The special week of activities to help people into employment was a resounding success as almost 1000 people attended events. Employability Week featured a series of events to showcase the wide range of partners and services available to offer support for people looking for employment and highlighted job vacancies, new careers, training, volunteering and college courses on offer. The calendar of events over the week included:
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18 • An open day and barbecue at Eglinton Community Gardens in Eglinton Park, hosted by TACT, Criminal Justice and the Equal Programme, all offering different opportunities at the garden. • A Modern Apprenticeships recruitment day highlighting the range of opportunities available and providing support to young people to prepare for and secure one of these opportunities. • DWP arranges a jobs fair to showcase the range of jobs available and lots of employers attended and all partners were there to provide • The official launch of the Parent Hub at Glasgow Street, Ardrossan. This is run by Council-funded service We Work for Families, which was set up in 2017 and covers all of North Ayrshire. The team offers help with CVs, confidence building, accessing childcare, training and employment opportunities. At Eglinton Park, 110 people turned up to enjoy a barbecue in the sunshine and find out about new opportunities. Feedback included that the event showed “excellent partnership working” and offered “great networking”. The MA recruitment day was a hit, with almost 140 young people attending and comments being made on how helpful everyone was and how great the advice offered was. The DWP job fair attracted almost 500 claimants and, of these, eight people found work straight away, 34 interviews were arranged or conducted, and 141 job applications were filled in. The feedback from attendees, employers and providers was very positive. At the Parent Hub, more than 100 people went along and four new parents registered to get support in finding employment. Feedback focused on how informative the session was and how welcoming the atmosphere was. Everyone involved in staging Employability Week agrees that it was a productive week and hopes to see it become a regular feature on the events calendar. Laura Neill, Senior Manager for Employability, said: “I would like to thank everyone – all the Council staff, charities and partners – involved in making this week one to remember by showcasing all the wonderful opportunities that are right here on our doorstep. “Everybody worked really hard to make these events a great success and, more importantly, many people found out about new opportunities they might never have known existed. “In fact, Employability Week was so valuable to people in our communities who are searching for the right job, training or volunteering opportunity, we are looking at making it an annual event. Thanks again to my own team and all the Council staff involved.”
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19 Care at Home Training Academy The Care at Home Training Academy is just one of the training opportunities delivered as part of Your Next Move Working North Ayrshire. This initiative, targets parents, and provides a range of interventions and ongoing support from a dedicated keyworker to help individuals develop their confidence and skills for work. This Training Academy provides underpinning skills for employment in the care sector as well as tips to prepare for the guaranteed interview. Hours of employment within the care sector can often be a barrier for parents, so following a focus group discussion, the Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership considered how flexible working arrangements can support their recruitment challenges and we have delivered a pilot to introduce flexible hours to meet the needs of parents as part of this Care at Home Training Academy by offering flexible working arrangements suitable for family commitments. A better off in work calculation is also completed with a choice on hours worked so parents can make choices which suit family circumstances and maximise household incomes. This is another excellent way to break down barriers and help parents progress into suitable employment Hear from our parents, training providers and the employer how flexible working has supported parents to prepare and sustain employment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5eJZvB9YeA
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20 6. Priority 3: World What do we want to do? We will work more closely and effectively together to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. How are we delivering this? The North Ayrshire Climate Change Steering Group (CCSG) Act as a sounding board and critical friend to support and challenge the implementation of the North Ayrshire Sustainability Strategy. They bring ideas, lessons learned and best practice from elsewhere in the UK and internationally around climate change mitigation and adaption. The CCSG contribute wider policy knowledge on the sustainability and climate change agenda, promote North Ayrshire’s actions on climate change and contribute to the review and refresh of the North Ayrshire Council Environmental and Climate Change Strategy as required. Members of the CCSG include representatives from: • The Council • Ayrshire College • Police Scotland
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21 • Scottish Fire & Rescue Service • NHS Ayrshire & Arran • K:A Leisure • Community Groups • Industry Sector • Transport Sector • Youth Groups
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22 What is the data telling us? High Level Measures We see some positive trends in this area, with overall carbon emissions reducing over a three-year period from 21,791 to 20,570 and public EV charging points increasing by 14. More detailed information can be found in the Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy. Local Measures Overall Carbon Emissions (Tonnes) 2023/24: 20,570 2022/23: 20,754 2021/22: 21,791 Number of Electric Vehicle Charging Points Publicly Available 2023/24: 65 2022/23: 59 2021/22: 51 Number of Participants Taking Part in Active Travel Hub Activities 2023/24: Data not yet available 2022/23: 2,874 2021/22: 441 % of People Walking/Cycling Instead of Other Transport Forms Daily 2023/24: 42% 2022/23: 42% 2021/22: Not yet collected NEW: Number of Climate Training Opportunities Provided through CPP Senior Officers Group Climate emergency training has now been delievered to 26 partners from across the CPP since 2021. Plans are in place to collect further data on partner training options for 24/25.
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23 Working in Partnership North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership and Framework The benefits and value for people and places of spending time in nature and enjoying the greenspaces around us is clear. There is a huge volume of green health-based activity already being delivered in North Ayrshire by a variety of partners and community groups. Many groups that the North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership has had the pleasure in supporting through participatory budgeting and small grants over the years, recognising the dedication and commitment from the staff and volunteers who deliver these activities. The North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership (NAGHP) and Greenspace Scotland developed North Ayrshire Green Health Strategic Framework 2024-2030, serving as a legacy for the Partnership and a vision for the future. The Framework defines the future of green health in North Ayrshire with the vision that North Ayrshire people get outside and active in good quality, nature filled greenspaces that improve their wellbeing, build their skills and benefit our planet. By unifying local and national learning, it sets out key principles and goals for integrating green health activities into North Ayrshire policy and practice ensuring continued green health action that benefits the people of North Ayrshire. It also identifies the key achievements of the North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership, outlines the current policy context and highlights relevant evidence supporting green health activity. In June 2024 the Green Health Framework was endorsed by the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership and work will continue to influence and embed it into the work they do to deliver on their three themes of Wellbeing, Work and World. Trinity Active Travel Hub The Active Travel Hub aims to encourage and support people to be more active by: • walking and cycling at home, school or work • walking, cycling or using public transport for everyday journeys and everyday lives. The Hub’s main aim is to support and encourage walking, cycling and scooting in and around North Ayrshire for short local journeys via activities, events, raising awareness and information gathering. They also offer certified training courses like cycle ride leader, walk leader, first aid and Velotech. The Trinity was realised with support from European Regional Development funds under Transport Scotland’s Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund and North Ayrshire Council.
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24 Click here to find out more about what’s on at The Trinity North Ayrshire Solar Farms Work is now under way on North Ayrshire Council’s plans to build its first two solar PV farms. It will be the first of the two Council solar farms, with works commencing at the second site at Shewalton in Irvine at a later date. These projects are believed to be the first solar farms to be owned and operated by a local authority in Scotland and mark a major milestone in the Council’s bid to cut carbon emissions. As well as raising revenue for the Council which can be reinvested into North Ayrshire, Nethermains alone is expected to create enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes. The creation of the two solar farms – which represent a £12.465 million investment – are key elements of delivery of the Council’s Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and will have the bonus of earning income for the Council to help sustain local services and provide community benefits by selling the electricity generated via a Power Purchase Agreement. The Nethermains solar farm will feature more than 12,000 solar panels once installation is complete later this year. It is expected to generate approximately 7,700MWh of electricity annually. Work on the Shewalton solar PV farm, like Nethermains, is on track to begin producing energy later this year. It will generate around 5,400MWh to supply the local electricity grid once operational. The annual reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at 2,700 tonnes of CO2 per year based on the combined annual energy generation of over 13,000 MWh.
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25 7. Locality Planning in North Ayrshire At a local level, there are six Locality Partnerships (LPs) in North Ayrshire which cover the whole local authority area. Our LPs are the way we fulfil duties under the Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015 to have locality arrangements. Their membership comprises: • Elected Members, • Community representatives, • Community Council Chairs, and • Community Planning partners. The LPs agreed their first set of local priorities following consultation, use of the Place Standard and consideration of local statistical profiles in 2017. The LPs meet quarterly with interim working groups/workshops as required. Their remit is to focus on tackling local issues and inequalities as well as to develop, review and implement the priorities of the Locality Plan for their area. As the original priorities were in place since 2016/17, it was agreed in 2020 that the priorities should be refreshed. This process consisted of research and analysis on local issues followed by 14 weeks of public consultation, and the LPs agreed their refreshed priorities at the June 2021 round of meetings. Additionally, the Terms of Reference and Standing Orders for Locality Partnerships were reviewed and refreshed in 2022.
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26 Arran Locality Partnership Since its inception in 2016, locality planning on Arran has seen significant progress. The Arran Locality Partnership has developed strong connections with the Health and Social Care Partnership, leading to a more unified approach to addressing the needs of the island's residents. In recent years, the focus of the Arran Locality Partnership has shifted towards aligning its initiatives with the Arran Local Island Plan. This alignment enhances how North Ayrshire Council tailors its services to better support the objectives outlined in the Arran Plan. In 2021, the Arran Locality Partnership adopted the key themes of the Arran Island Plan after engaging extensively with the public. This ensures that locality planning remains attuned to the unique priorities of the island community. The partnership is now exploring ways for North Ayrshire Council to customise its services specifically for Arran residents, reinforcing the overarching goals of the Arran Plan. This evolution reflects a commitment to creating a cohesive and responsive approach to community planning on Arran, tailored to its distinct context and needs. You can find the Arran Island Action Plan here. Arran Locality Priorities Communities Economy Environment During 2023/24 Arran Locality Partnership: Awarded £7,851 In Grant Funding Awarded £79,853 Community Investment Funding Co-opted the Island Plan Leads as members of the Locality Partnership to strengthen the links of the Partnership and Island Plan work.
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27 Key discussion themes during 2023/24 Partnership focuses for 2024/25 Community Engagement and Support Skills Development Enhancing Partnership Working Refresh annual Locality Action Plan Support the work of the Arran Island Plan and its Sub-groups Continue to enhance community wellbeing and partnership working
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28 Garnock Valley Locality Partnership The Garnock Valley is comprised of several vibrant towns and villages, including Keith, Dalry, Kilbirnie, Gateside, Burnhouse, Longbar, and Greenhills. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the valley was a significant centre for industrial activity, featuring a wide variety of manufacturing sectors such as textiles, wooden furniture, silk scarves, leather goods, weaving, iron and steel production, foundry work, coal mining, and brickmaking In 2021, an extensive public engagement revealed that the community still found the priorities established in 2016 to be relevant. As a result, the Partnership has continued to advance these priorities. To maintain focus on these objectives, a subgroup has been created to concentrate on each priority area, providing quarterly updates to the Locality Partnership on their progress. The Garnock Valley 2023/24 Action Plan can be found here. Garnock Valley Locality Priorities Moving Around Work & The Local Community Facilities & Amenities During 2023/24 Garnock Valley Locality Partnership: Awarded £15,707 In Grant Funding. Awarded £79,298.04 Community Investment Funding. 2 Streets Named for new housing development in Kilbirnie.
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29 Key discussion themes for 2023/24 Partnership focuses for 2024/25 Supporting Community Engagement and Development Improving Local Infrastrucutres Supporting Community Projects Refresh annual Locality Action Plan Enhance engagement opprtunites with local community for Our Garnock Valley and Travel Needs Analysis Implement changes following feedback from Our Garnock Valley and the Travel Needs Analysis
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30 Irvine Locality Partnership The Irvine Locality Partnership includes the central town of Irvine and the nearby villages of Springside, Dreghorn, and Drybridge. The town's scenic harbour area reflects its rich industrial history and is home to the National Maritime Museum. Irvine's beach serves as a year-round natural resource for locals and visitors alike, promoting health and activity within the community. The residents of Irvine and its surrounding villages form dynamic, engaged communities that collaborate to ensure inclusivity and support for all, fostering unity and shared goals. In 2021, an extensive public engagement initiative revealed that the community felt the priorities established in 2017 needed updating due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. To address this, the Locality Team hosts chit chat events across each of the community settlements in Irvine to discuss issues relating to the priorities and how the Partnership can provide support. The 2023/24 Irvine Locality Action Plan can be found here. Irvine Locality Priorities Supporting Skills and Work Opportunities Alleviating Poverty Enhancing our Mental Health & Wellbeing Championing Green Health and the Natural Environment During 2023/24 Irvine Locality Partnership: Awarded £54,630.68 In Grant Funding. Awarded £350,423 Community Investment Funding. 2 Streets Named for new housing developments in Irvine.
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31 Enhancing Community Infrastructures Community Engagement Enhancing Local Investment Refreshing annual Locality Action Plan Support work of the Irvine Town Board Encourage funding opportunities and organise Community Chit Chats to enhance engagement with local communities. Key discussion themes during 2023/24 Partnership Focuses for 2024/25
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32 Kilwinning Locality Partnership Kilwinning, a vibrant town in North Ayrshire, is located along the River Garnock, just north of Irvine. Kilwinning boasts a rich history, having been a centre for various industries over the years, including weaving, coal mining, and ironworks, which significantly contributed to Scotland's industrial growth. In the 20th century, it became part of Scotland's last New Town initiative, reinforcing its status as a key economic and cultural centre. In 2021, a comprehensive public engagement initiative was conducted to reevaluate the community's priorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The insights gathered indicated that the priorities set in 2017 needed updating to more effectively meet the changing needs and challenges of the community. The 2023/24 Kilwinning Locality Action Plan can be found here. Kilwinning Locality Priorities Supporting Skills and Work Improving Our Local Environment Alleviating Poverty and Promoting Equity of Access to Opportunities Improving Community Wellbeing During 2023/24 Kilwinning Locality Partnership: Awarded £7,746.86 In Grant Funding. Awarded £36,000 Community Investment Funding. 4 Streets Named for new housing developments in Kilwinning
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33 Community Development and Wellbeing Community Investment and Support Local Develoment and Infrastructure Refresh annual Locality Action Plan Promote funding opportunities and Community Chit Chats to foster more engagement with communities Creation of Locality Sub-Groups Key discussions Topics for 2023/24 Partnership focuses for 2024/25
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34 North Coast and Cumbraes Locality Partnership The North Coast Locality includes the island of Cumbrae and the picturesque seaside towns of Largs, Fairlie, Skelmorlie, and West Kilbride. Largs, the largest town, is a popular seaside resort offering a wide range of amenities and activities for visitors, including ferry access to Cumbrae for exploration. While Fairlie, Skelmorlie, and West Kilbride are smaller, they feature excellent amenities such as restaurants, shops, and beautiful rural walks. The sea front at Seamill boasts a long sandy beach, and Portencross has a charming harbour with stunning views. In 2021, a comprehensive public engagement initiative was conducted to reassess community priorities following the COVID-19 pandemic, yielding valuable insights that shaped a refreshed set of targeted priorities. Cumbrae also has its own Island Plan which will be used to help drive the development of Cumbrae. The Plan focuses on three key themes – Community, Economy and Environment. The 2023/24 North Coast & Cumbraes Locality Action Plan can be found here. North Coast and Cumbraes Locality Priorities Improving Access to Financial Services Increasing Social Inclusion Improving Mental Wellbeing Supporting Skills and Work Opportunities During 2023/24 North Coast & Cumbraes Locality Partnership: Awarded £23,000.26 In Grant Funding. Awarded £6,750 Community Investment Funding. 9 Streets Named for new housing developments in Largs and West Kilbride.
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35 Community Development and Wellbeing Local Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability Enhancing Local Investment Key discussion themes during 2023/24 Partnership focuses for 2024/25 Refresh annual Locality Action Plan Support the work of the Cumbrae Island Plan Promote funding opportunities and Community Chit Chats to foster more engagement with communities
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36 Three Towns Locality Partnership The Three Towns comprises of the communities of Saltcoats, Stevenston. It’s scenic landscapes and coastal allure make it a favoured destination for leisure and tourism. The Three Towns provide a wide range of leisure and tourist attractions to meet various interests. Notable sites include Clyde Marina, the impressive ruins of Ardrossan Castle, the Arran ferry at Ardrossan Harbour with easy access to train and bus services, Auchenharvie Leisure Centre and Golf Club, Ardeer Golf Club, Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve, and the historic ruins of Kerlaw Castle. In 2021, an extensive public engagement took place to reassess what the community needed after the COVID-19 pandemic. The feedback collected during this initiative gave important insights into the changing needs of residents and as a result, new priorities were set, allowing for a more focused and effective way to meet the community's evolving requirements. The 2023/24 Three Towns Locality Action Plan can be found here. Three Towns Locality Priorities Promoting the Local Economy & Tourism Regenerating Community Facilities Increasing Civic Pride and Community Engagement Improving Community Wellbeing During 2023/24 Three Towns Locality Partnership: Awarded £49,213 In Grant Funding. Awarded £175,588 Community Investment Funding. 3 Streets Named for new housing developments in Stevenston & Saltcoats
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37 Local Community Development Partnership Working Improving infratrstucture and Services in the area Key Discussion Topics for the Partnership during 2023/24 Partnership focuses for 2024/25 Refresh annual Locality Action Plan Continue to increase Community Engagement Maximising the impacts of community funding
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38 The council’s Local Government Benchmarking Framework analysis of 69 comparable indicators showed that, in the five years from 2014/15 to 2018/19, performance improved for 49 per cent of indicators in absolute terms. North Ayrshire’s performance across the range of Community Planning Outcomes Profile indicators shows a general improvement in outcomes over the ten years 2007/08 to 2017/18 . Best Value Assurance Report 2020 There has been £880,060.80 in grants and funding invested in North Ayrshire through local grant making and the Community Investment Fund in 23/24. Since the start of the CIF fund in 2017/18, funding of £3.451,993 has been invested in the area through our Locality Partnerships. This amounts to over £3 of external funding leveraged per £1 of CIF funding. “The council works effectively with a wide range of partners including the CPP, the IJB and private business. There is joint ownership of, and commitment to delivering agreed strategic priorities. The Council Plan, the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and local community plans are all clearly aligned and focussed on addressing North Ayrshire's key challenges.” Best Value Assurance Report 2020 "CLD practices and principles are embedded within the work of the North Ayrshire Council and the Community Planning Partnership (CPP). CLD is highly valued. Leadership of CLD is effective and supported by well-established reporting structures. The CLD plan reflects both council and local outcomes improvement plan priorities. Staff understand their role well in delivering against CLD plan priorities. Shared aims and objectives are evident in partnership groups such as Locality Planning Partnerships (LPPs) and work is driven by council, CPP and local priorities. Senior leaders, the CLD service and partners have a clear commitment to partnership working with the communities they serve...Third sector and community representatives are well represented across community planning structures and feel heard and valued. This supports services to understand the needs of communities." Community Learning and Development Progress Visit Report 2023 "In March 2019, the Trust extended its partnership with North Ayrshire Council, seeking to build on the principles set out in the Kindness Promise and to integrate practical changes across the local authority’s services – to embed radical kindness. The second phase of Kindness in North Ayrshire ran for a further 12 months, conducted under challenging circumstances that included internal restructure and job losses, a snap general election, a Best Value Audit, and the emergence of a global pandemic. During this time, the Associate worked across the Community Planning Partnership to encourage a shift in organisational culture and ways of working, and challenge public sector leaders to embrace the principles laid out in the Promise." North Ayrshire: A Case Study on Kindness, Carnegie Trust 8. Our Impact While this report focuses on the focus and achievements of the CPP in 2023-24, it is helpful to frame this in the context of our wider journey as a partnership. Reflecting on our local impact and influence over the past 5-10 years:
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39 9. The Year Ahead Some of our key focuses for the year ahead are outlined below: For further information about any of the above please contact us at communityplanning@north-ayrsire.gov.uk Review of Locality Planning National CPP Self- Assessment North Ayrshire CPP Conference 24/25 Increased pan- Ayrshire working Local grants and funding development Mainstreaming CPP Child Poverty focus
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40 10. Tell us your views Please take a few minutes to tell us what you think about the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Annual Report 2023/24 by completing our survey online: https://forms.office.com/e/jArtnqVE92 Alternatively, you can email us at: communityplanning@north-ayrshire.gov.uk with any questions or comments. Thank you!