Nairnshire Partnership

This observer went to the Partnership workshop on Monday night and a very interesting affair it was too. I went representing a group and not as a member of the public so you'll have to wait until the proposals get reported to the next proper partnership meeting to find out what went on. I don't think anyone would be too upset if it was pointed out that there was strong lobbying at the workshop for as much as possible to be held in public however.

The Gurn poll is insructive in that as of today (22nd November) over 68% of Gurnites that voted have responded No to the question "Should all meetings of the Nairnshire Partnership be open to public?" Are you one of the those who voted No? Perhaps you might to explain the reasons behind your vote in the comments thread? It really would be interesting to find out a bit more.

Here's a reminder of a comment Iain Bain made in an Nairnshire editorial earlier this year:

“There is too much meeting behind closed doors already in Nairn. The Nairn Partnership, a self-appointed group of interested parties meets privately. Yet it is, perhaps more than community councils, the body which informs Ward 19 councillors and contributes to policy making and some decision making by councillors. Our understanding is that the Partnership which once held its proceedings in public stopped doing so because of interventions by the public. Community Councils should not follow this example.”

Nairnshire group that meets behind closed doors to review direction

The Gurn understands that the Nairnshire Partnership has invited all Community Councils to send two representatives to a meeting on the 17th of this month to "review its membership and future direction."

What is the Nairnshire Partnership and why does it need to meet behind closed doors? This is what they say on their website:

"The Nairn Initiative has now been superceded by the Nainshire Partnership,a multi-bodied partnership between the voluntary sector, private sector and public agencies. The Nairnshire Parnership is the Community Planning Partnership for the area" You can read more here.

On the face of it the Nairnshire partnership is quite important then, even the more reason to be completely transparent if it is to enjoy the support of the community. However there has been quite serious criticism of the Partnership in recent times, here's what NICE had to say at the height of their 2011/12 winter/spring activity:

"It is of course true that the Nairn(shire) Partnership exists as a collective formal group. Evidence exists that it has ceased to offer a genuine forum for the development of a shared vision, but serves primarily a vehicle for the local authorities to make announcements and deliver vision. The emergence of other groups – of which NICE is only the most recent – is a clear sign that the Nairnshire Partnership is not fulfilling the role envisaged in the official guidance"

It is interesting that at a time when NICE hopes to come back to life (an initiative very, very much contingent on the rank and file mustering to the colours perhaps) that the Nairnshire Partnership should also seek to redefine itself. the Gurn calls upon the Nairnshire Partnership to open its doors to the public on the 17th and will go along in the hope of being able to report on the proceedings.

A must read letter - Nairnshire Partnership not working?

NICE have submitted a five page letter (plus four annex pages) to the Highland Council ahead of the Ward Forum meeting next Wednesday (26^th 7.00p.m. at the Courthouse). NICE are not only setting out their stall but stating what the Community should expect from their Council. This letter is a ‘must read’ for all serious students of Town Centre Planning affairs. The meeting will be a ‘must attend’ too for all those who were appalled at the Council’s ‘Plan B’ design for the Town Centre. Wednesday night will demonstrate how far the Highland Council have moved to accommodate the wishes of the people of Nairn.

Here’s a couple of extracts from the annex pages which highlights one of the perceived failings in a part of the apparatus set up by the Council in response to Scottish Government guidance – that is ‘The Nairnshire Partnership'

The first is NICE’s own view

‘It is of course true that the Nairn(shire) Partnership exists as a collective formal group. Evidence exists that it has ceased to offer a genuine forum for the development of a shared vision, but serves primarily a vehicle for the local authorities to make announcements and deliver vision. The emergence of other groups – of which NICE is only the most recent – is a clear sign that the Nairnshire Partnership is not fulfilling the role envisaged in the official guidance.

And here’s information from Planning in Small Towns (PAN 52), a guidance document from the Scottish Government which NICE quote in the document they have sent to the Council.

“The regeneration of town centres will not, however, happen by chance; it requires a shared vision, positive planning policies and carefully targeted investment in new development, redevelopment, refurbishment and environmental improvement, including the management of traffic.”

“Many [Scottish] towns have experienced or are undergoing significant change; but this needs to be handled with care if their inherent qualities, which makes them distinctive, are not to be eroded. Retaining these qualities, building on them and attempting to restore the traditional vitality of small towns are therefore key tasks which cannot be undertaken by planning authorities acting alone or working with an agency; the involvement of local community and business organisations is essential in understanding the town, considering the scope for change and setting out a co-ordinated programme of action. Vision, imagination and urban design skills are also essential ingredients if small towns are to respond to rising expectations and the demands of the modern economy while safeguarding their built heritage.”

There’s a lot more to read in the NICE letter. Forget the Sunday supplements, get right up to date with Town Centre affairs by reading the letter. The Highland Council planners might be drawing up the future for us but it is Nairn residents that will have to live with it not them – let’s make sure we get something we all want!

The Nairnshire Partnership and Ward forum tonight

Perhaps the easiest way to go over some of the subjects discussed tonight is to let Gurnites have a look at some of the correspondence that went out with the minutes. Members of the Partnership or interested citizens sometimes submit questions in advance.

Here's the answers that community watchdog Sheena Baker got to her detail requests for information about the Sandown Lands. Copies of the two page leter, here and here.

Joe Telfer submitted a letter about seagulls and got a response, page 1 & page 2.

What use is the Highland Council's eplanning service if you don't have a PC or, like up in Glenferness, no broadband connection. Sandy did mention that help may soon be at hand however on the broadband front as the Scottish Government wants the whole country to have availabilty as soon as possible.

We remarked earlier in the week about the omission of the Nairn by-Pass in the Highland Council Draft Transport Strategy, well Liz has put her name to a letter that should put that right. Seems a bit crazy since we now have a by-pass line but the right hand and the left hand and all that.

Ward Forum fervour and Nairn Partnership passion!

It was a remarkable evening upstairs in the Courthouse and the Gurnmeister hopes he can do justice to what passed earlier, however keep that forty pence in your pocket for Monday evening/Tuesday morning beacause the local paper was, as usual, there to record the proceedings. Hopefully a fuller description of events will emerge on the Gurn in the morning but Water Lane events are unfolding at great speed and we have more material to publish and they will take precedence, I know the web is supposed to be a 24/7 resource but please be patient.

What was the the most startling part of the evening then? Sheena Baker and her list of Common Good Fund questions (the Gurnmeister must look at his notes but it seems that William Gilfillan is already investigating legal implications of some of them)? Iain Fairweather with his stats that point out that it has been a good tourist season so far - as good as the mid-90's in fact? Was it Rosemary Machen-Young who called for a 200 strong group of Nairnites to just go out and clean up the Regal, regardless of what Somerfield or anyone else might think or try and do to stop it? Was it the Inquisition of River CC's Margaret MacKintosh who relentlessly and succinctly asked Malcolm MacLeod of HC (he was presenting the Highland Development Plan Scheme) why we have to build on perfectly good arable land? Was it our indefatigable gaffer Sandy Park who indicated that people had to get involved because previous consultations could have been held in a telephone box on the High Street? Sandy that was a good point, top man! You are right, it's down to the citizens to participate.

It's hard to articulate really, you should have been there to see it for yourself, perhaps eventually they will webcast this too. The main point is perhaps, that we get a chance to input into the new development plan for the Highlands and the process has been promised to be open and transparent. Let's take them at their word Gurnites, as they say themselves we have to learn from the past. If we think the A96 Corridor Master Plan is the cause of all our woes for example, let's get involved on mass and chuck out what we don't want - let's develop planet Nairnshire in the style we want and not anyone else. If it's really a new planning world then let's make it ours. Make your views heard Gurnites. More on this tomorrow if time permits and keep up to date over on the APT blog too.

PS Gurnmeister opinion on Cawdor Delnies plan below

Nairnshire Partnership and Ward Forum 26th August 18.00 - 20.00, the Courthouse - an item for debate that Gurnites may wish to hear in person

Good morning Gurnites, here's the Highland Council webpage and the agenda in detail. A concerned Gurnite has drawn our attention to item 10:
10. Highland Development Plan Scheme – presentation by Malcolm Macleod, HC’s Development Plans Manager

Our correspondent tells us, 'the MIR (Main Issue Report) itself is now coming up for consultation with the general public. This HWDP will inform the development of the whole of the inner Moray Firth area for some years to come and is enormously important.' Our fellow Gurnite continues.' mention this only to highlight two things, people in Nairn need to be attending anything to do with the MIR now in order to acquaint themselves with it in an environment where there are people to answer their questions as is the case at the Forum next week. They should also take the opportunity to go online and look at the MIR on the H.C. website and here is where to go.......

This may all sound a bit dull but we have to show an interest because if we don't then the voices of ordinary citizens will be lost and we may get the kind of future that others want to impose upon us. If you care about your community and other communities in the Moray Firth and the Highlands then get involved in planning issues, make your views known, talk to your friends and neighbours about it and let's make the agenda something that is citizen led and not council, government or developer led. Sometimes we like to bitch about how we think things are going wrong and how we feel we are ignored but this time let's make 100% use of this new chance to have our say.

Keep an eye on the APT blog too for important news items about further meetings and chances to get your point of view across.