Kinross and Kinross-shire Community Engagement
Perth & Kinross Council has given an update on the recent
community engagement exercise which has taken place within the
Kinross community and surrounding area.
The purpose of the exercise was to work with the local community to
identify issues of importance to them. A particular focus was given
to identifying the opportunities which have arisen from the
Council's investment in the new Loch Leven Community Campus where
state of the art classrooms combined with the latest sports and
cultural facilities provide first class education, sports and
leisure services. The commitment of the community to the new campus
was symbolised by the 5,000+ people who came through its doors
during the opening weekend between Friday 20 and Sunday 22
November.
In addition to issues relating to the campus, discussions also took
place with the community relating to planning/heritage and the
local townscape, and social enterprise.
Following a period of community engagement over the summer in
Kinross, including several focus groups, the exercise culminated in
a World Café event in September open to the whole community.
The Council has confirmed that the comments coming from this
process have been invaluable in helping to inform the future
planning and delivery of services within the area.
Progress has already been made on a range of issues
identified:
1) A funding event took place on 30 November for the community
which took into consideration the work of the local community
groups;
2) A new community worker has now been in post since the end of
September 2009 and has been contacting and meeting with community
groups throughout the area;
3) Consultation and collaboration between the Council and the
Kinross Partnership is continuing on improvements to business
facades and public spaces, and the redevelopment of the Town
Hall;
4) Meetings have been held with the Community Council and the
Kinross Partnership on the Conservation Area and associated design
issues. The draft Appraisal of Conservation Area is completed and
awaiting approval from Council and Scottish Ministers;
5) Exploration of options for extending schemes to allow improved
access to toilet facilities for the public at Kirkgate Park;
6) Simplification of the traffic management arrangements and
increased public safety around the recycling centre;
7) Signage to be erected to advertise public parking provision in
the former Kinross High School grounds.
Council Leader Councillor Ian Miller said: "I would like to take
this opportunity on behalf of the Council to thank everyone who has
been involved and continues to be involved in the discussions as
part of the community engagement in the Kinross-shire area. This
process provides a better and more informed engagement between the
Council and local people. Some of the issues raised will require
longer-term planning and detailed consideration, particularly in
light of the current financial climate. However, I am pleased that
a range of work is already being progressed in the local area. We
will keep the community fully informed as this moves on into the
New Year and beyond."
Background to the community engagement
Council officers carried out focus groups over the summer
to speak to as many representatives and individuals as possible
from the community in the Kinross and Kinross-shire area. The
themes that were broadly identified for discussion - community
campus, planning/heritage and social enterprise were consistent
with the issues the community raised. This was encouraging and
the Council looked forward to further discussions.
At the same time, the Council consulted the community on the
updated Kinross Conservation Area Appraisal. The draft
Kinross Conservation Area Appraisal has been available on the
Council website from 17 August 2009 and views and comments on the
draft were welcomed during the focus groups and the World Cafe
Event.
An exhibition on the Kinross Conservation Area ran alongside the
focus group in the Kinross Church Centre on 27 August and was open
for visitors on 27 August, 31 August and 1 September, as an all day
drop-in opportunity. Members of the Conservation and
Regeneration Team were on hand to answer any questions and collect
comments.
To capture all the comments from the focus groups and the
Conservation Area Appraisal, a World Cafe event was
held on 10 September 2009 at Kinross High School and an
evaluation of the comments [pdf 31KB] has been produced.
The World Cafe event discussed the issues raised and looked at ways
forward in partnership with local communities.
The World Cafe was based on round table discussions grouped into
the areas that came out of the focus groups. 30 minutes
approximately were attributed to each theme, and then participants
were asked to move to the next theme. The round table discussions
focussed on potential solutions and ways forward.
Participants were asked to choose three themes out of
five. The five themes were: Community Assets, Community
Heritage/Open Spaces, Services to the Community, Supporting the
Community and Community Attraction.
Perth & Kinross Council would like to thank all
participants who attended all the focus groups. Issues raised were
the link road, town hall, county buildings and lack of ground
maintenance; in addition the soon to be vacated Kinross High
School, use of new community campus and derelict buildings. Public
toilets were also mentioned as was the lack of car spacing in the
area.
