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Case Studies |
Examples from Partners
Scotland
Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership (ATP).
ATP is a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council (the municipality), Scottish Enterprise Grampian (regional economic regeneration agency) and Communities Scotland (housing and community regeneration agency). It was formed in 1998 to target a portion of the agencies’ resources on shared objectives, so that the mutual benefits were enhanced. Each agency allocated a specific budget for the partnership annually. Five Aberdeenshire towns were identified as an initial priority and each town set its own strategy and targets, which were evaluated annually. After 8 years three towns (Ellon, Inverurie and Stonehaven) graduated out of the programme and two other towns joined. More information on the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership can be found on their website( www.atap.org.uk).
Ellon
Project Title: Ellon Strategy Group
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Description: The Ellon Strategy Group comprises representatives of local interest groups, and Aberdeenshrie Council members and officers.
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Objectives: The Town Strategy Group provides a mechanism for
- co-ordinating the activities of these various groups together
- for identifying priorities for funding bids, and
- for monitoring progress in regard to each of the individual projects.
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Process/Stages: One of the key objectives of the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership is to secure a long – term framework that will be robust, self –sustaining and have a future beyond the town’s “membership “ of the actual programme itself.
Initially, a number of groups were established with broad remits to focus upon the economic, social and community, and environmental issues surrounding the town and to bring forward projects and activities aimed at strengthening the overall position of the town.
During the course of the project, these groups have evolved and new groups have become established, which although supported by the Partnership, are very much led by the local community and provide local solutions to local needs.
Examples of such groups are the Ellon Business Initiative, the Traders Association, and the Civic Pride Group. Funding through the Partnership is seen as “seed-corn” or “pump-priming” support to allow these groups to become established and, in the longer-term, self–sustaining.
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Outcomes/Results:
- Increased levels of community engagement
- Increased level of community and voluntary activity
- Increased sense of community ownership
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Learning Points:
- Do not be prescriptive as to structure, it will evolve to meet local needs and aspirations
- A small budget to assist the work of the groups is beneficial
- Support co-operation but recognise diversity
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Contact Information: Keith Newton Tel 01358 726402 email
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Ellon Animateur (See "Dialogue" component).
Inverurie
Inverurie Partnership
A new partnership of local public, private and voluntary agencies has been formed to develop the whole town strategy - sharing information, resources and experience to work together on agreed objectives. This new group, called the ‘Inverurie Partnership’, consists of:
- Aberdeenshire Council (Councillors and staff) - the municipality
- Inverurie Community Council - representing the residents of the town
- Inverurie Business Association – representing businesses
- Gordon Rural Action - representing the voluntary sector
- Garioch Area Partnership – representing networks of local people
- Representatives of young people in the town.
Inverurie Environmental Improvement Group / Help Light Up Inverurie
 These are two examples of local community partnership groups in action. They are both examples of groups of volunteers who undertake community activities in their own time for the benefit of all the community, for no pay. The Help Light Up Inverurie group maintains and erects Christmas lights in the town centre each year, and has raised over 60,000euro to purchase new Christmas lights and install floodlighting of the Town Hall and War Memorial. The Inverurie Environmental Improvement Group plants, erects and waters floral baskets in the town centre throughout the summer. In 2007 they erected and maintained 180 hanging baskets. 
In these partnership projects the volunteers plan the projects and offer their skill, knowledge and time, and the Council assists with advice and guidance, if required, and contributes to the cost of purchasing equipment. The community gains by having a more interesting and attractive town centre, the volunteers gain a pride in their community and a sense of wellbeing by contributing their skills for community benefit, and the Council gains because the town centre is enhanced in a way that the Council can no longer afford to undertake itself.
Environmental Initiative (see ‘Environmental Quality’)
Stonehaven
Project: Stonehaven Town Partnership Ltd
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Description: This Group has evolved to exist in a completely new form beyond the exit of the creator and funder Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership, (which finished for Stonehaven in March 2006). £4000 funding for company set up and enabling the Group to obtain sustainability.
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Objectives: To be an umbrella organisation for the town and all groups operating within the town, who wish to be a member. To develop an overall strategy for the town. Potential evolution into a Development Trust.
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Process/Stages:
- Six community people came forward from the existing main Group to form a Working Group, reporting back to the wider group
- This Working Group, facilitated by the Development Worker for Aberdeenshire Councils for the Voluntary Sector, they formed a company limited by guarantee. The Group are creating a structure that will be sustainable and effective.
- Two potential projects identified and researched to put to the wider Group
1. Stonehaven Town Hall 2. The Ambassador Project
- Invitations sent to over 90 local Groups and promotion done for an Inaugural meeting held 30 May 2007. A turnout of 31 Group representatives, which has (so far) resulted in over 20 Groups joining as a member and 4 more Director posts being assigned...
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Outcomes/Results:
- A Group has evolved that can carry on the communication work established by the previous Group, but has been hugely enhanced. STP Ltd Is set up to aim for sustainability and is more inclusive than the ‘old’ Group.
- The Group is operating in a way that allows input from Aberdeenshire Council, but it does not lead the Group.
- The two projects were identified with reference to recent surveys, community consultations and feasibility studies.
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Learning points:
- The new group has been formed sharing best practice knowledge gained from all the 4 other partnerships detailed in this theme.
- The process takes time and support to create an effective structure and engaging project ideas. It must evolve at its own natural pace.
- Seed funding was essential to allow Group to reach this stage, and to be sustainable the Group need to identify their own funding source.
- Groups need support/advice from statutory bodies during evolution, but must be allowed to steer their own path to allow full ownership of what is created.
- It is important the Group promote their ideas effectively to the wider Community to allow them to progress with their support.
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Contact Information: Gordon Ritchie - Chairman: email
Jacqui Christie, Community Planning Officer, email |
Stonehaven Farmer's & Producers Market (see ‘Town Centre Management’)
Stonehaven Horizon Project (see ‘Environmental Quality’)
Stonehaven It's Special (see ‘Tourism’)
Stonehaven Sustaining of the Open Air Pool (see ‘Community Facilities’)
Sweden
Åmål
Putting Åmål in the Centre (see ‘Tourism’)
Kungälv
Project Title: South of Bohuslan Partnership. Includes 4 municipalities including Kungälv
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Description: Regional collaboration among municipalities concerning marketing and product development in the tourism sector but also in other segments.
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Objectives:
- Focus
- An expanding tourism sector – gives expansion to other segments as well
- More professional marketing of the area
- Development of new companies
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Process/Stages: Start with collaboration among the municipalities
Get the companies in the area to like the idea
Form a company with private companies and public officers on the board
Search professional staff
Cooperate
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Outcomes/Results:
- Less cost per municipality
- More employment
- Higher tax income
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Learning Points:
- It works! It has worked since 1983
- Most companies pay and some try to avoid paying
- Professional marketing gives you more visitors
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Contact Information: Bengt Gustafsson , Mayor of Kungälv, +46705-751592
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Kungälv - Mimers House (see ‘Community Facilities’)
Strömstad
Project Title: Town Team Strömstad
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Description: Members from local organisations; shopowners, companies within tourism, manufacturing, consulting, shipping, real estate. Politicians and officers of the local authorities.
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Objectives:
- A sustainable development of Strömstad as a destination and a place to live.
- Create an attractive city centre that can be reached by everybody. Pedestrians, elderly, bikers, wheelchairs, cars…
- Form a foundation for future development of all kinds
- To learn from each others and about each others businesses
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Process/Stages:
- Forming Town Team.
- Swot analysis of our town.
- Priority list of what to do and when.
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Outcomes/Results:
- Broader understanding of why things are being done
- Making better priorities
- Making better decisions with a broader knowledge
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Learning Points:
- Make people communicate and talk to each other instead of about each other
- Someone must be the leader and “steer” the project
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Contact Information: Solweig, Adolfsson, project leader SusSET +46526623 31, email
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Strömstad Tourist (see ‘Tourism’)
Intra-municipalities or regions: ‘North of Bohuslan Tourism’; 5 Municipalities in Sweden including Strömstad (see ‘Tourism’)
Messologhi Cyclist´s network (see ‘Transport and Infrastructure’)
Examples from Elsewhere
England
There are many examples of small town partnerships in England. For individual examples, contact the UK Action for Market Towns – see www.towns.org.uk
For examples of cluster initiatives, contact the English Regional Development Agencies such as Yorkshire Forward, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) or the South West (SWEDA).
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