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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
FINANCE COMMITTEE

FOR DECISION

Title: Approval of Expenditure of Deeside/Donside Development
Project 2010-2013. Community Action Planning.

Prepared by: Claire Ross, Education and Inclusion Manager

Purpose

To formally approve commitment of CNPA expenditure for the Deeside/Donside Development
Project. £15,000 per annum for each of the years 2010/11-2012/13, a three year project.

Recommendations

That the Committee formally approve the expenditure detailed in para. 6 for the Deeside/Donside
Development project from April 2010 to March 2013.

Executive Summary

Communities play a vital role in delivering the aims of the National Park. It is therefore
important to place a strong emphasis on actively engaging with communities both within and
out with the Park, as well as supporting communities to contribute in the delivery of the
Park Plan. With the creation of Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) it is vital to develop a
framework that allows communities and the Community Planning Partnerships to come
together to collectively deliver the Scottish Governments strategic objectives.

The “Our Community a Way Forward” pilot project (2007/08) has been viewed as an overall
success and is continuing to be used as a template throughout the other communities in
Badenoch and Strathspey through the “Our Community s Way Forward” led by Voluntary
Action Badenoch and Strathspey.

Now the Marr area within the Park wish to build on the success of their community action
plan: Ballater One Voice Our Future (BOVOF) and have submitted a three year project
proposal to Leader that brings together resources from the voluntary and community
sector: Ballater Royal Deeside Ltd (BRD) and Marr Area Partnership (MAP) and the public
sector CNPA, Leader and Aberdeenshire Council.

APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE OF DEESIDE/DONSIDE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 2010-2013. COMMUNITY ACTION
PLANNING - FOR DECISION

Community Action Planning

1. This paper follows on from the “CNPA’s approach to Community Engagement and
Support” brought to the Board September 2008 and the “Community Action
Planning Update” paper brought to the Board March 2009. These papers established
how the CNPA has engaged with communites (geographical and of interest) within
the Park and how it has supported the development of community action plans.

2. This approach has seen the establishment and successful delivery of a Community
Development project in the Highland area of the Park led by Voluntary Action
Badenoch and Strathspey (VABS) (2007-2009) its main outputs have included:
a) Over one hundred community projects supported.
b) Approx 700K project funding levered into the area
c) Significantly increased levels of voluntary hours in delivering community led
projects.
The Board then approved the follow up project in the “Community Action Planning
Update” March 2008 (again led by VABs) which delivers the Community
Development elements of the projects as well as rolling out community action
planning throughout Badenoch and Strathspey to 2013. This paper seeks approval to
establish similar community development support in the Aberdeenshire area of the
Park.

3. The CNPA has historically faced some challenges targeting resources to the east side
of the National Park, for several reasons that include: different funding criteria for
certain projects (ESF) and a rural more spread out population.The Deeside/Donside
Development Project if successful in its application will contribute greatly in
addressing this perceived imbalance. It creates a local structure led by the
communities to identify priorities with the areas and then support the communities
to take action.

4. The Deeside/Donside Development Project with be monitored by the Marr Local
Community Action group (Community Planning partnership) so that partnership
resources can be maximised in its delivery.

Costs and Funding

5. The following table shows the Deeside/Donside Development Projects costs and
funding from 2010-2013. Project costs are outlined in greater detail in the attached
EJF (Appendix 1)

Note: Copy in this section forms part of a table and cannot be laid out in text. Please see PDF. 

Funding
Partners
Year One
2010/2011
Year Two
2011/2012
Year Three
2012/2013 Total
Leader 26K 26K 26K 78K (49.7%)
CNPA 15K 15K 15K 45K (28.6%)
Aberdeenshire
Council 5k 5K 5K 15K (9.6%)
Ballater Royal
Deeside (in
kind)
6.3K 6,3K 6.3K 19K (12.1%)
52.3K 52.3K 52.3K 157K

6. In addition to this there will be additional officer hours from the community planning
partnership in particular the CNPA and Aberdeenshire Council. There will also be a
significant level of volunteer hours from members of community groups such as the
Community Councils, Youth groups, local businesses and residents etc.

CNPA Commitment

7. From 01 April 2010 – 31 March 2013, the CNPA commitment will be 45K. This
represents 28.6% of the total project commitment over the next three years.

Recommendation

8. It is recommended that the Finance Committee approve funding for 45K for the
next three years (15K per annum)

Claire Ross
February 1st 2010
claireross@cairngorms.co.uk