9923: HIGHLAND STRUCTURE PLAN YOUTH FORUM
This 1999 nomination by The Highland Council is for the Highland Structure Plan Youth Forum, held at Council Headquarters on 22 March 1999. The Forum was organised primarily by the Planning and Development Service in conjunction with the Education Service (in particular Community Education officers from throughout The Council Areas), and fifty-six young people from across the Highlands attended the full day event. The Highland Youth Forum represents an innovative consultation process for the Highland Structure Plan, offering a model for future consultation events for the Planning and Development Service. The success of the initiative, with 75% of those attending stating that they felt their views were taken seriously and 82% of those present stating they would either definitely or possibly attend such an event in the future. The development of a vehicle to secure a close working arrangements with the Education Service through the organisation and operation of the event is a good example of cross-service co-operation which can be built upon in the future. The Forum took forward the Planning and Development Service goals in an efficient and innovative manner. It was a practical demonstration of how planning can take forward Scottish Executive objectives for involving the youth in local decision making, The Highland Council's goals and values, and contribute to the Council's Community Plan. The views of the young people of Highland, an important group for the future development of the area, have been effectively taken on board in the preparation of the finalised Structure Plan. The young people of Highland are its future and the Planning and Development Service consider it important that they are fully involved in the strategic planning processes which will shape that future. It was recognised by The Council that the young people of Highland were an important group who have in the past not been directly approached for views and opinions. A significant issue in the Highlands relates to providing jobs, facilities and homes for the younger members of the population, particularly in more remote areas. The decision was taken as part of the Structure Plan process to convene a Youth Forum to discuss the issues relevant to young people in Highland, as well as to help understand what can be done to influence people to stay in the area or return following higher education. It was recognised that young people can make a valuable contribution to the planning process, derived from experiences and values which are different from those of adults. Views expressed during the day have also been fed into the Council's Draft Community Plan and are being passed onto all other Council Services and all Council Members. In arranging the Forum, the following aims were set out:
1) To widen the consultation on the Highland Structure Plan to include the specific concerns and aspirations of the young people of Highland;
2) To involve young people in building a common vision for the Highlands of Scotland;
3) To introduce and promote the work of the Planning and Development Service to the young people of Highland;
4) To develop effective working arrangements with other Services (in this case the Community Education arm of the Education Service) which could be developed further in the future;
5) To ensure that the wider aspirations of the young people of Highland are disseminated throughout The Council, to Council members and through the media, to the wider public; and
6) To contribute to the Local Agenda 21 initiative by promoting the principles of sustainable development to young people.
The day was structured to allow people to express their views whilst at the same time being an educative and social experience, enabling young people to meet and discuss issues of relevance with other young people from across the Highlands. Active participation was encouraged as far as possible, involving discussion in the main forum as well as smaller workshop groups. Covered throughout the day were an assessment of the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the Highlands, workshops covering issues relating to Economy, Community, Environment and Infrastructure as well as two presentations made by Planning and Development officers, to introduce the Structure Plan and the concept of Sustainable Development. The day culminated in a discussion on the strategic issues facing the youth of Highland, and a vote was carried out to assess the three main areas of concern. These were:
a) The need for an extensive and affordable public transport system;
b) The need for a wider range of community and leisure facilities throughout the Highlands; and
c) The need to ensure the provision and availability of affordable housing.
All the issues raised during the day have been taken forward for analysis, and areas of particular concern will be further addressed as part of the preparation of the finalised Structure Plan for submission early next year to the Minister for Transport and the Environment. Some issues were raised which are not directly land-use planning related, and these will be passed onto the relevant Council Service. The results of the day have been drawn together and each attendee has been given a copy of a feedback report, outlining the main discussion points and how the comments received during the day will be taken forward to the preparation of the finalised document. A second report outlining the major issues and concerns of the delegates to the Youth Forum will shortly be disseminated to each Councillor as well as to the Director of every Service in the Council and the Head of Policy. Consideration is now being given to the organisation of follow-up events at Council Area level to present the finalised Structure Plan, which will demonstrate how the results of the Youth Forum have been incorporated into the plan in terms of more specific policies or proposals and to obtain further views and comments.
The judges asked for a presentation on this nomination. They were specially interested to explore the format of the forum and the encouragement and support which had been given at senior Member level. They concluded that this was a highly innovatory initiative of real value, well conducted and relating the consideration of strategic issues closely to the work of councillors and the local democratic process. This nomination enthusiastically and successfully tackled two notoriously difficult areas: the involvement of younger people in planning, and consultation on strategic (rather than local) planning issues. The judges believe that Highland Council has shown the way in making special arrangements to link the concerns of young people to the consideration of emerging structure plan policies. The judges strongly recommend a 1999 Award for the Highland Youth Forum initiative in this category.