Tag: Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Council developing a bold new strategy to safeguard the local economy and make it fairer and more sustainable for the benefit of its communities.

Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a people-centred approach which will bring together communities, businesses, a wide range of public sector bodies and commercial partners to build a stronger local economy.

Among the main focus points will be keeping and growing local spend by supporting businesses to bid for local authority and other public sector contracts.

It will also support communities to realise their ambitions to hold a greater stake in the local economy, through a host of new opportunities including community asset transfers.

As demonstrated successfully by other local authorities who have developed a CWB strategy – including North Ayrshire Council which established the first in Scotland – the council is firmly committed to ensuring public land, resources and assets are utilised more effectively to meet community and business needs.

As part of the initial engagement work, a series of online workshops are being held to gather the views of local partners and stakeholders across key sectors, which will feed into the development of the draft strategy.

An online workshop for the Third Sector, aimed at community groups, charities, and social enterprises, is being held between 1.30-3.30pm on Thursday, January 16 – interested groups can register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-community-wealth-in-aberdeenshire-workshop-tickets-1117631308329 opens in a new tab

Community wealth building uses five pillars to create more economic benefits for an area:

Spending
Increasing local procurement, commissioning and wider investment, using public spend to deliver community benefit, fair work and build local supply chains

Fair employment
Increasing fair work and developing local labour markets, ensuring the workforce are in well paid jobs that benefit from an effective voice, security and flexibility.

Land and property
Ensuring that communities maximise benefit and generate wealth from local land and property.

Inclusive ownership
Stimulating the development and growth of locally owned enterprises that generate local wealth. In particular, the encouragement of employee owned businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises.

Financial Power
Ensuring that the flows of wealth generated within the local economy works for the wellbeing of communities and businesses

Chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Alan Turner, said: “I am delighted to see work starting around a community wealth building strategy for Aberdeenshire which will provide us with the means to deliver wellbeing for every community across the north-east. By working hand in hand with those communities and our commercial sectors, we will enable them to create and own wealth in their local area.

“While absolutely acknowledging that Aberdeenshire has a thriving and diverse economy, we know it can be improved to provide more equity for businesses. Our priority is to maximise economic opportunities for everyone across Aberdeenshire by putting people at the very heart of those vital local economies.”

Vice-chair Cllr Isobel Davidson added: “I’m really excited about a community wealth building approach which will offer excellent opportunities for local people to create a more inclusive and thriving community and ensure that the benefits of local economic growth are properly and rightfully invested across Aberdeenshire.”

Aberdeenshire Council News

Aberdeenshire Council developing a Community Wealth Building Strategy | Aberdeenshire Council developing a Community Wealth Building Strategy | Aberdeenshire Council developing a Community Wealth Building Strategy | Aberdeenshire Council developing a Community Wealth Building Strategy | Aberdeenshire Council developing a Community Wealth Building Strategy

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Murdoch Allan toasts approval to sell their premium spirits brand from Peterhead shop

Communities invited to share views on library services

Communities invited to share views on library services events taking place in the Cairnbulg, Kintore, Newmachar, Insch, Boddam, Rosehearty, Macduff, New Pitsligo, Inverbervie, Newtonhill, Strichen, Cruden Bay and Balmedie libraries.

Discussions around the future delivery of library services in a number of communities are to take place across Aberdeenshire over the next fortnight.

During the events, Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) will outline options that are currently being explored and invite customers and residents to share additional ideas for consideration.

The sessions are being delivered in two phases, with the first events taking place in the Cairnbulg, Kintore, Newmachar, Insch, Boddam, Rosehearty, and Macduff libraries.

Further events will take place in January at the New Pitsligo, Inverbervie, Newtonhill, Strichen, Cruden Bay and Balmedie libraries.

Head of Communities, Partnerships & Wellbeing, Avril Nicol, said: “Our aim through these discussions is to provide reassurance that our intention is to continue to provide an element of face-to-face contact with our communities in the future, albeit this might be in a different location or delivered in a different way.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to outline our approach to delivering an affordable, sustainable model of service delivery in partnership with our communities. This will be supported by a network of 18 core libraries across Aberdeenshire and an ongoing wide range of digital services alongside the already popular ‘Click & Collect’ and doorstep delivery options which have been developed over recent years.

“The discussions we’ve already had in some areas has helped us identify some exciting opportunities that we believe will be mutually beneficially to the service and our communities.”

Communities invited to share views on library services:

December’s events will take place as follows:

Cairnbulg Library: Wed, Dec 11, from 12.30pm-1.30pm.
Kintore Library: Thu, Dec 12, from 1pm-2pm
Newmachar Library: Thu, Dec 12, from 3pm-4.30pm
Insch Library: Fri, Dec 13, from 2pm-3.30pm
Boddam Library: Tue, Dec 17, from 10am-11.30am
Rosehearty Library: Tue, Dec 17, from 12.30pm-2pm
Macduff Library: Tue, Dec 17, from 2.45pm-4.15pm

Communities invited to share views on library services:

January’s events will take place as follows:

New Pitsligo Library: Mon, Jan 6, from 10am-11.30am
Inverbervie Library: Mon, Jan 6, from 1.30pm-3pm
Newtonhill Library: Wed, Jan 8, from 3.30pm-5pm
Strichen Library: Fri, Jan 10, from 10am-11.30am
Cruden Bay Library: Fri, Jan 10, from 12.15pm-1.45pm
Balmedie Library: Fri, Jan 10, from 3.30pm-4.30pm

Communities invited to share views on library services:

The options currently being explored by LLA for the libraries concerned can be found below:

Cairnbulg: LLA is exploring alternative buildings for the co-location/delivery of services, and to explore potential interest in asset transfer or lease of the existing library building.
Kintore: The existing library space will remain within Kintore School, with the focus of discussion being around the proposed changes in delivery.
Insch: LLA is considering the use of Insch Community Centre for the future delivery of local library services.
Newmachar: LLA is exploring the possibility of delivering library activity in the Newmachar Primary School and perhaps working with local community managed facilities.
Boddam: Options are being explored at the school and village hall.
Rosehearty: The existing library space will remain within Rosehearty School, with the focus of discussion being around proposed changes in delivery.
Macduff: LLA is exploring the potential of delivering library activity in alternative buildings such as the Myrus Centre and perhaps working with local community managed facilities.
New Pitsligo: LLA is exploring alternative buildings for the co-location/delivery of services.
Inverbervie: LLA is exploring alternative community owned buildings for the co-location/delivery of services.
Strichen: LLA is exploring alternative buildings for the co-location/delivery of services.
Cruden Bay: LLA is exploring alternative community owned buildings for the co-location/delivery of services.
Balmedie: LLA is exploring alternative options including community owned buildings for the co-location/delivery of services.

Feedback can also be shared with Live Life Aberdeenshire directly at: llacustomerservice@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Communities invited to share views on library services | Communities invited to share views on library services | Communities invited to share views on library services

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Festive Bins Collections and Household recycling centres

Festive Bins Collections 2024

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New Yellow Warning of Ice Affecting Aberdeenshire

New Museum of Aberdeenshire and Peterhead Library

Noise App release

Aberdeenshire Council Noise App release 27.11.24

Nearly 1,000 cases of nuisance noise have been reported since the introduction of Aberdeenshire Council’s noise app.

Nearly 1,000 cases of nuisance noise have been reported since the introduction of Aberdeenshire Council’s noise app.

Launched as a trial back in November 2020, the app allows residents to make 30-second recordings on their smartphone each time there is a problem.

Around 1,500 people have downloaded the app and such as been the success of the system that it’s now widely used by the council’s Housing, Environmental Health and Community Safety services.

To-date, the council has seen the resolution of 862 cases following investigation, with 101 live cases where noise complaints are currently being looked into.

The most common complaints continue to be around domestic music, anti-social behaviour and noise from animals. Loud voices, live music, domestic or industrial machinery and TV and gaming have also led to complaints.

The Noise App allows residents to capture an offending noise quickly, rather than wait for officers to attend to witness the noise or to install noise-measuring equipment.

It also allows officers to start their investigations far earlier and take rapid action. Under the latest version of the app, users can now play back a recording before it’s submitted to ensure they have clearly captured the issue.

Cllr Anne Stirling, chair of the council’s Communities Committee, said: “First and foremost, I would encourage all residents and businesses to always be considerate to those living around them. We all have varying tolerances when it comes to noise disturbance and it can be particularly upsetting if the noise is coming from a neighbouring property. I am delighted that the Noise App has proved so successful and trust it will provide further benefit to those impacted by nuisance noise.”

Housing Manager Andrew Mackie added: “I would encourage anyone who is experiencing issues surrounding noise to download the Noise App, make a clear recording and provide us with the basic information required to allow us to investigate your complaint. By taking this simple step, it enables our officers to assess the options open to them in order to get a resolution. In many cases we’ve found that the recordings have clearly demonstrated to neighbours – be that residents or businesses – how they are inconveniencing people and that can lead to a speedy resolution.”

You can download the app at www.thenoiseapp.com

For guidance on some types of noise that may be regarded as a nuisance:

Noise

Sound is essential to our daily lives, but noise is not – noise can be defined as unwanted sound. It is a source of irritation and stress for many people and can even damage our hearing if it is loud enough.

A nuisance is often difficult to establish but, generally speaking, if something is unreasonable to the average person, a court might decide it is a statutory nuisance. Noise nuisance is covered by Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 opens in a new tab.

Listed below are some types of noise that may be regarded as a nuisance.

Noise Pollution

Noise and Planning

The Environmental Health team are currently reviewing our guidance for applicants and developers, it is hoped this will be completed in the second half of 2023. In the meantime, applicants are encouraged to contact the Environmental Health team to discuss their methodologies at the earliest opportunity.