Head of Policy and Performance:
Carron McDiarmid
Community Planning Staff:
Regeneration Co-ordinator: Bob MacKinnon
Policy Staff:
Policy Manager: Cath King
Policy Officer: Alison Clark
Equal Opportunities Officer: Rosemary MacKinnon
Policy Assistant – Equal Opportunities: Claire Byard
Sustainable Development Officer: Ailsa Campbell
Policy Assistant – Sustainable Development: Noel McAllister
Performance Staff:
Performance Manager: John Robertson
Performance Co-ordinators: Brenda MacDonald, Eilidh Budge
Senior Business Improvement Consultant: Iain Swayne
Business Improvement Team: Willie Erskine, Terry Donoghue and David Balfour.
The Community Planning staff are responsible for:
Community Planning
Developing the process of Community Planning in partnership with other public, private and voluntary agencies in the Highland Wellbeing Alliance and implementing strategic themes in the Community Plan for Highland. A summary of the Community Plan including a Gaelic translation is also available. Area Managers supported by the Area Development Managers facilitate Community Planning at a local level.
Community Regeneration Fund
The Community Regeneration funding is provided by the Scottish Executive through Communities Scotland to Community Planning Partnerships and replaces the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund (1999 – 2005). The funding is one of a number of Government initiatives aimed at Closing the Opportunity Gap and is targeted at the most disadvantaged communities. Highland Council receives and manages the grant funding on behalf of the Wellbeing Alliance. Three year funding has been announced (2005/06 - £609,000; 2006/07 - £613,000; 2007/08 - £641,000). Use of the funds will be governed by a Regeneration Outcome Agreement (ROA) with Communities Scotland identifying how the Partners mainstream and specific funding is being used to meet Closing the Opportunity Gap objectives.
Community Safety
The Community Safety Unit is responsible for the implementation of the Highland Wellbeing Alliance Community Safety Strategy which aims to create safer places for people to live, work and visit without fear of harm and the Highland Wellbeing Alliance Domestic Abuse Strategy and Antisocial Behaviour Strategy. For further information see the Community Safety section.
Working with Area Managers
To develop the community planning process at local level and support community groups.
To ensure the Council's Discretionary Budgets are used effectively to achieve the Council's priorities and partnership commitments.
To further develop and implement the Standards of Community Engagement and support for Community Councils.
Working with Communities
The Council has introduced a Working with Communities Strategy to promote the involvement of the public in service planning and delivery. Consultation standards have been agreed and a Community Involvement Guide for staff has been introduced to support the standards. The Standards of Community Engagement will be implemented in April 2006. The Council provides £150,000 to support Community Councils in Highland and carries out a wide range of consultation activities.
Policy staff have responsibility for:
Equal Opportunities
The Council has obligations to meet the requirements of UK Equal Opportunities legislation. Recent and impending changes to the legal framework extend our responsibility as a public body to promote and encourage equal opportunities in addition to tackling unlawful discrimination. Beyond the legal requirements, the Council has stated that equality of opportunity and the prevention of discrimination are fundamental to its goals and values. The Equal Opportunities Officer supports and contributes to the development of policies and practices in keeping those principles.
The effects of stereotyping and deep rooted prejudices mean that some groups in our community continue to face discrimination; the Council believes that it is essential to operate fair employment practices which recruit and promote people on the basis of merit and ability, and to strive to deliver best value services that are accessible to all. The Council’s equal opportunities policies are in accordance with current and forthcoming legislation to promote equal opportunities and provide protection from discrimination on the following grounds:
Disability
Gender
Age (2006)
Race
Sexual Orientation
Religion or belief
In addition to Personnel policies, key documents include:
Equal Opportunities Policy and Implementation Plan (Service Delivery) (PDF 354 Kb)
Race Equality Scheme(2005 -2008) (PDF 214 Kb) and Race Equality Scheme Summary (PDF 31 Kb)
Electoral Reform
With the introduction of proportional representation at the 2007 local government elections, attention is being focused on the boundaries of the new multi member wards.
Health Improvement
The current Highland Wellbeing Alliance Joint Health Improvement Plan runs from 2004 - 2007. The plan focuses on wellbeing rather than a medical model of health and ill health. It recognises that health improvement is everyone's business. Actions from the plan require to be incorporated into Council Service delivery and actions at area level.
Research
Commissioning and carrying out research and evaluation as part of wider policy support for the Council's campaigning priorities and other areas of work.
Select Committees
Working with other staff and Services on matters relating to the Council's Select Committees and in particular providing support for the Renewing Democracy and Community Planning Committee and the Sustainable Development Select Committee.
Sustainable Development
The Council has appointed an officer to develop the Council’s corporate commitment to sustainable development and lead the implementation of Local Agenda 21 action within the Council. A strategy is under development to “green” the Council’s in-house procedures, beginning with the preparation of an Energy Management Performance Plan to reduce energy use, costs and carbon emissions, and increase the Council’s use of renewable energy. The Sustainable Development Officer’s current work programme also includes action to secure Community Benefit from renewable energy development, developing the Council’s approach to Strategic Environmental Assessment and climate change, preparing guidance and in-house training opportunities on sustainability issues, and partnership-working to promote sustainable development within the Wellbeing Alliance and the wider Highland community.
Voluntary Sector
Supporting and developing the Council's relationship with the Voluntary Sector, including the effective development of information and advice services, the Voluntary Sector Policy and Volunteering Policy.
Performance Staff have responsibility for:
Developing the performance management arrangements for the council against the requirements of Best Value.
Undertaking core activities – such as the public performance survey, production of the corporate plan.
Guidance and development of service planning and Review activity.