Aspiring Places - Community Projects in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 February 2025
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 11 February 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Aspiring Places; Community Projects in Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Groups FQ4 2024/25 Lucy Dunbar – Project Officer Milly Leggett – Project Officer Stuart Green – Project Manager
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Previous project approach - Area Plans Council Agreed Priorities – November 2022 Corporate Plan 2023 - 2027; Agreed by Policy and Resources Committee – October 2023 Number of locality plans - 8 Purpose & Principles Approach - 3 phases Resourcing and timescales In addition; agreed to reflect any relevant outcomes from the Community Planning Partnership Community Wealth Building Review relevant to the Council in the approach to producing area plans.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Project review April – September 2024 April 2024 – Project officers appointed. April 2024 - Change of Administration. CEO request for pause and review of project. ELT appointed as project board.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Council Agreed Priorities 2024 – 2027 New priorities agreed September 2024 Includes implementation of Aspiring Places; Community Projects in Argyll and Bute.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Council Decision – September 2024 Council agreed to; 1. Rename the initiative as ‘Aspiring Places: Community Projects in Argyll and Bute. 2. Adopt Consul Democracy (a digital tool for citizen participation) 3. Engage with all community groups over the same period of time rather than a phased approach on an area basis; 4. Provide guidance to inform community groups of potential funding opportunities. 5. No longer create the publication of 8 ‘Area Plan’ documents and subject to a trial period, alternatively report to members on; a) the outcomes of the initiative through a formal evaluation and b) future recommendations on the long term viability and retention of the Aspiring Places – Community Projects in Argyll and Bute initiative.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Revised Project Vision To create in one place, a comprehensive picture of all community projects to increase the likelihood of collaboration, securing external funding and implementation of projects in a planned approach to place.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Aspiring Places: One Digital Space for Community Projects in Argyll and Bute Single engagement phase using an existing and established community a digital tool for citizen participation, CONSUL Democracy . An intuitive and easy to use platform designed for communities to create and share their proposals. A tried and tested platform used by 23 Scottish Local Authorities. Pioneered in Argyll and Bute by Community Development team as part of emergency COVID 19 response, Building Back Better initiative. Currently funded by Scottish Government and supported by COSLA. Open access.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Project Scope Aspiring Places will be... Aspiring Places will not... A place to help raise awareness of the range of projects community groups and organisations would like to or are planning to carry out Directly administer funding for projects. However, it will provide signposting to existing information about funding opportunities. One single place that community groups, council officers and elected members can go to, to be able to gain knowledge of all the potential and existing projects within an area. Directly support groups to develop projects and/or create business plans. However, it will include signposting to self-help resources A place for groups who want to carry out similar projects to find each other Be a delivery plan for the council or groups taking part An information source that will help the Council link community projects with funding opportunities when they arise Supersede Council plans and priorities
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Next steps Pilot Online Platform (December 2024 – February 2025) Pilot with selected community groups Development of Support Resources Launch (March 2025) Evaluation (August to December 2025) Business Case for Future Retention of Site (January to April 2026)