STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR ABERDEEN CITY

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

As part of the event, representatives will be invited to vote on future priorities for the Community Plan for the City. The summaries below outline initial priorities identified by The Aberdeen City Alliance, which may prove useful reading prior to the event.

1.  Children - Getting It Right

Getting it right for every child is a national approach to help all professionals supporting children and young people in Scotland. The implementation of a collective, overarching methodology should help improve opportunities for all children and young people in the country.

Although it will involve shifts in certain processes for some professionals, the key principles embedded in the Getting it right approach reflect good practice that is already happening in areas around the country.

‘Getting it right for every child' recognises that some practitioners will need minimal change in order to comply with the new guidelines; whereas others may experience a significant shift in systems and culture as a result.

By promoting these initiatives, providing guidance and support, and proposing legislation, Getting it right can ensure that the network of practitioners that supports Scotland's children and work together effectively through shared systems, shared standards, shared expectation and shared priorities.

The Getting it right programme is on a journey of ongoing consultation, strategic preparation, process mapping, systems review, legislation, guidance and toolkits, and finally, full implementation. Along this journey there will be scope for testing through pathfinder activity, and subsequently opportunities for improvement over time - even after the official implementation phases are complete.

It is envisaged that practitioners will develop the Getting it right approach in their own organisations, regions and sectors to reflect local circumstances & needs, synchronised and in unison with all other partner services, and most importantly, adaptable to the needs of each and every family, child and young person.

2.  Environment - Climate Change

The number one issue facing Aberdeen in the 21st Century is the same the world over- Climate Change.  The Scottish Government has made this a priority and this comes under a Wealthier and Fairer Scotland.  However for Aberdeen it is critical that this is addressed.  The Council is addressing this as a landlord and a corporate citizen but Climate Change is affecting everyone across the planet.  We must reduce Green house Gases.  90% of emissions come from the way we live and our issues are all about the way we live.  We need sustainable and carbon neutral homes.  Not only those that are newly constructed but those that currently exist.  Research is required to ensure that adequate treatments are available.  The NE Global Footprint project showed that the major contributors to our high global footprint was our buildings and transportation.  Where we live and access to amenities and transportation routes are vital.  Our footprint in the City  region is high as we have poor access to transportation North of the City.  There is a high reliance on road transport for commuters and haulage.   The City cannot afford to dispose waste into landfill.  The more we dump the more we increase emissions and our ecological footprint.  There are solutions which will involve affirmative action, improving our natural environment, reducing our waste, using technology and innovative actions.  Doing nothing is not a solution.  New legislation will see potential financial risks that will impact on society, our health and the environment.  The environment can operate perfectly well without out people and an economy.  It is society who needs the environment to further our self determination, health and wellbeing.

3.  Health and Social Care - Children (Healthy Minds and Bodies)

     Scottish ministers expect children and young people in Scotland to be valued by ensuring that they are:      

• Safe
• Nurtured
• Healthy
• Achieving
• Active
• Respected & Responsible
• Included

4.  Homes - Affordable Housing

One of the main requirements of all peoples is that of shelter and adequate housing.  How that accommodation is obtained can vary in ease for, proving especially difficult for those people on a low to middle income.

In 2004, Aberdeen City Council commissioned a Housing Needs Assessment which was undertaken by Fordham Research. The research showed that there is a requirement for approx 900 affordable houses per annum in Aberdeen until 2010 in order to meet current (and future?) housing needs. The Aberdeen Homes Forum discussed the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment when developing the Local Housing Strategy 2006-2011. The Forum agreed, after discussions on past and projected new build trend, that an achievable target of 350 affordable housing units per annum should be set by the Council. However, even if this target is achieved annually, there will still remain significant unmet housing need within the City. An issue that has become all the more prevalent with the consistent increase in City house prices.

The Council and the Aberdeen Homes Forum are continuing to explore all possibilities of providing more affordable housing in Aberdeen. The Council and its partners see the need to expand the economic base in the City and to subsequently increase the population to ensure the continued growth of the City. Whilst this is desirable, this will put further pressure on the housing market, especially for reasonably priced housing. In order to ensure Aberdeen's growth as a prosperous and vibrant City it is essential that the revised Community Plan gives the provision of affordable housing the highest priority.

5.  Homes - Regeneration

A Community Regeneration Strategy was commissioned by The Aberdeen City Alliance in 2004.  The Strategy has the fundamental aim of making 21^st Century Aberdeen a successful city for all its people.  It is particularly focused on action to support those communities which have gained the least from the economic successes of the last few decades.  The Strategy proposes action to regenerate Aberdeen by improving, in particular, the quality of life in those communities within the City which are most disadvantaged and by integrating those communities into the life of the City.  By creating a more inclusive city and by tackling the geography of inequality, the Regeneration Strategy seeks to lay sound foundations for the development of the City.

6.  Lifelong Learning - Closing the Gap

• Ø Closing the gap in educational attainment in schools through early intervention transitions between nursery primary and secondary school post school transitions to work.
• Ø Improving adult literacy and numeracy
• Ø Developing the Family learning approach
• Ø Improving employer engagement in setting priorities for lifelong learning and training.

• Ø Widening participation and improving retention and progression in further and higher education

7. Locality Planning - Continued Development of Neighbourhood Planning

Significant progress has been made but we still face challenges before we can claim Neighbourhood Planning has been fully established.  In other words we have still to fully achieve the standards for neighbourhood planning set out in the Framework for Neighbourhood Planning and Service Delivery.

We still need to:

• fully involve service managers across the partner agencies
• improve access to data and evidence of need at a local level
• integrate NCAPs, service plans and local projects
• broaden community engagement via communication, networking and on-going dialogue.
• Move dialogue on to the discussion of complex issues including health inequalities; low educational attainment; unemployment; drug misuse; etc.
• ...all of this is required to fully deliver action plans and have a positive impact on communities. And will require the active participation of most of the TACA partners.

8.  Prosperity and Jobs - City Centre Redevelopment

ACSEF has a fresh and up-to-date economic plan for the region following an economic summit and one to one engagement with key stakeholders in the region - the outcome of which was consequently published in an economic manifesto.

City centre redevelopment was deemed so important to the economy of the region as a whole it was voted as one of ACSEF's eight strategic priorities at the summit.

The economic manifesto states "Aberdeen city centre needs to be the vibrant heart of the region, the hub for all those that live, work and visit it, be that for business or pleasure."

Feedback has indicated that the city centre needs accessibility (both to and from), more businesses in it, improved occupancy, and become the cultural centre of the North East - all with safety built in.

9.  Safety - Violence & Disorder in Aberdeen City

Aberdeen Community Safety Partnership will continue to focus on tackling violence and disorder, which includes

• antisocial behaviour
• violence
• domestic abuse
• racist incidents and other hate crime
• alcohol related crime and
• the wider impact of crime associated with substance misuse

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and partner agencies including Aberdeen City Council (ACC) and Grampian Police are working together to reduce the impact of these issues on victims, communities and the city as a whole.

Short and long term initiatives have been implemented and are planned to address public safety, tackling not just the issues, but also the cause of the issues.  For example, the following are under way in relation to alcohol related problems in the city centre.  Over the last several years cities and towns in Scotland have seen an increased level of alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder, with Aberdeen being no exception. Aberdeen ranks 10^th in a table of non sexual violent crimes recorded in cities and towns in Scotland.

Enforcement:

• Grampian Police ‘Operation Oak' specifically targets the city centre issues around licensed premises
• Extra police patrols targeting ‘hotspot' areas
• Police officers authorised to issue fixed penalty notices (FPN) for minor offences
• Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBO) have been used to effect to ban persistent offenders from areas and premises within the city centre ( as of November 2007 there were 47 ASBO against persons residing in the Central area with a further 10 pending)
• Dedicated city centre police unit, led by an inspector, providing high visibility patrols in the area and liasing with businesses (both licensed and non-licensed) to identify and resolve issues
• Transport Marshals are employed at weekends, in the evening, to ensure taxi queues are safe free from disorder

Environmental Issues:

• Fixed and mobile CCTV has been installed at various locations
• Traffic calming measures introduced
• Mobile urinals are used at strategic locations
• City lighting has been brought up to standard
• Establishment of weekend and evening taxi ranks in more manageable locations and away from side streets is in progress

Other Initiatives:

• Best Bar None - is an annual competition, making awards to licensed premises for good practice, innovation and improvement culminating in a high profile awards ceremony around November each year. This initiative, sponsored by Diageo, encourages licensees to promote good behaviour and sensible drinking within their establishments
• Shop Safe - encourages interaction between shopkeepers, sharing information and early warning systems with regard to theft and disorder. This initiative is funded by contribution from the shopkeepers

There is little evidence of aggressive begging in Aberdeen any instance of which would be targeted by the police. It is important to note that street begging is not illegal in Scots Law, and the Council are currently examining the possibility of a local bylaw prohibiting begging. This is a complex legal issue requiring a robust case to be made identifying need beyond just the presence of beggars on the street.

Education:

Various campaigns have been initiated through Grampian police and other partners, including Crimestoppers, to raise awareness of issues such as drink driving and encouraging people to report crime and antisocial behaviour to the Council, Police or Crimestoppers. 

Festive Season:

In 2007/08 additional funding was received from the Scottish Government to tackle alcohol related disorder in the city centre during the festive period for:

• Extra police patrols
• Additional transport marshals
• Implementation of a training scheme for public house and other licensed shopkeepers
• Publicity campaign on the effect of alcohol incidents on A&E workers
• Triage services, to operate in the city centre in December providing medical care and help for anyone who requires it

Additionally, in the period immediately after New Year, additional support was offered, by counsellors, to those arrested for substance misuse offences, including drink and drugs, before they are released.

Much of the funding for all of the above is from Community Safety Partnership funding and associated streams including Antisocial Behaviour and Safer Streets Funding.

Notable Achievements:

• Racial Harassment Incidents reduced by 42%
• Motorcycle Incidents reduced by 48%
• Underage drinking reduced by 8%
• During the festive season 2007/08, serious assault incidents were reduced by 36.7%

10. Transport and Connections - Improve Sustainable Travel Options

Transport in Aberdeen is a particular challenge, attracting a high profile and strong opinions.  Congestion affects the economic performance of the City and the environmental impact of traffic has both local and global impact.  There is also concern over the number of casualties from Road Traffic Collisions and for security of transport users.  In a City where one-third of households do not have access to a car, the objective must be to ensure that choice is available - safe walking and cycling opportunities are the most environmentally sustainable and alongside public transport options can help to achieve effective, sustainable travel opportunities. 

The City Council, Nestrans and partners are working on delivering major transport improvements which will improve travel in the City, but improved sustainable travel options will also be required to achieve the aim of sustainable economic growth.