Moray Community Planning Partnership - Elgin Forums Set to Roll

Two new Local Neighbourhood Forums will soon be launched in Elgin, one covering the northern part of the town and the other covering the south end.

The Forums bring together a broad cross-section of local people who will work closely with those who deliver services in the Elgin area.  The main purpose of the Forums is to identify the needs of those living in each area and devise Local Community Action Plans to address the key issues.

Three Support Workers have recently been appointed to assist in getting the Forums underway.  A Local Support Group is also in place in the Elgin area, which includes representatives of the Community Planning partners in that area.  The role of the Support Group is to respond to issues raised by the Forums and seek responses from the relevant Community Planning Theme Groups (see below).

Ian Todd, Moray Council’s Senior Community Learning and Development Worker, responsible for setting up Neighbourhood Forums across Moray, said, “I am very much looking forward to the Elgin Forums coming together.  All Community Learning and Development staff, as well as members of the Local Support Group, recently attended a customised training event jointly delivered by Margaret Lindsay from the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) and myself.  The SCDC advises government on the research and development issues affecting Community Planning throughout Scotland.  The contents and outcomes of the training will be posted on the Community Planning website within the next few weeks”.

A pilot Forum in the Laich area, which has been running since the middle of last year has already drawn up its Action Plan.  It has brought together the communities of Lossiemouth, Burghead, Hopeman, Cummingston and Duffus to address a number of key issues.  The initial concern about dog fouling and litter across the area has already been addressed through a high profile Clean-Up Campaign in association with the local Community Warden, the Council’s Environmental Services Department and other partners.

The next stage is to establish Local Neighbourhood Forums in the Buckie, Fochabers, Forres, Keith and Speyside areas during the next few months.  The Forums will build on the Open Evenings held in these areas late last year, when a series of important issues and concerns were identified by local people, which they would like to see taken up by the Forums.

Information about the Forums can be found on the newly launched Community Planning website – www.moraycommunity.org.uk  As well as containing a wealth of  information about Community Planning in Moray, the site also provides the opportunity for local people to have their say about what is happening in Moray.

ENDS

Further information

Community Planning Themes

Theme	Theme Partnership (with responsibility for addressing issues under that theme)
Achieving a healthy and caring community	Community Health and Social Care Partnership
Achieving a safer community	Community Safety Partnership
Building stronger communities	Community Learning and Development Partnership
Improving travel, facilities, choices and safety	Transportation Co-ordinating Group
Investing in children and young people	Investing in Children and Young People Co-ordinating Group
Protecting and enhancing the environment	Environmental Forum
Working for increased prosperity	Local Economic Forum

 

Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046