Community Planning Aberdeen key in delivery of Socio-Economic Rescue Plan
07 July 2020
The scrutiny and implementation of a Socio-Economic Rescue Plan for 2020-21, which has been created in response to the impact of Covid-19 by Aberdeen City Council, will be done through the Community Planning Aberdeen Board (CPA).
The CPA is a partnership of organisations that come together to take part in community planning in Aberdeen. CPA sees the public, private and third sector working together with community groups to achieve the key priority of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) to create ‘a place where all people can prosper’.
The precise implications of Covid-19 and oil price fluctuations on the city’s economy are yet to be fully understood but it is clear that Aberdeen faces an even more significant economic shock than previous downturns. It is anticipated that the impact on businesses, individuals, young people and vulnerable groups in the city will be considerable.
The Socio-Economic Rescue Plan has been produced within the frameworks of the Regional Economic Strategy priorities, the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and the recently approved Net Zero Vision for the city and the Strategic Infrastructure Plan – Energy Transition.
The Rescue Plan aligns to the LOIP strategies for Economy, People, Place and while it focuses on immediate actions, there is an opportunity for it to inform the scheduled refresh of the LOIP in 2021.
The Council’s Chief Officer for City Growth will invite key organisations to participate in a ‘short-life’ Socio-Economic Rescue Plan – Implementation Group Working Group including organisations already on Aberdeen Prospers and augmented by representatives from the Business Resilience Group.
The remit of the Group will be to provide a coordinated and collaborative approach to implementing the Rescue Plan within the CPA Outcome Improvement Groups, the Council and with external stakeholders and partners.
CPA Outcome Improvement Groups provide an established structure to drive delivery and will take a lead, however delivery will need input from wider stakeholders not currently represented within these groups.
The Chief Officer for City Growth will report back to the Community Planning Aberdeen Board to update on the progress of the Socio-Economic Action Plan.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Jenny Laing, Chair of Community Planning Aberdeen Board said: “We are living in unprecedented times and the Socio-Economic Rescue Plan provides Aberdeen City Council with an opportunity to lead a coordinated city-wide response.
“The purpose of the Rescue Plan is to minimise the harm and impacts of the current crisis where possible. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to anchor existing inclusive economic growth and Local Outcome Improvement Plan priorities by focusing on the needs of local business and communities.
“The Community Planning Aberdeen Board are pleased to be given the opportunity to play a key role in the implementation and scrutiny of the Rescue Plan. By working together, we can get through this.”
The Socio-Economic Rescue Plan for 2020-21 and the creation of a ‘short life’ Socio-Economic Rescue Plan – Implementation Group was approved by the Council’s Urgent Business Committee on Tuesday 30 June.
Community Planning Aberdeen consists of Aberdeen City Council; ACVO; Aberdeen Civic Forum; North East Scotland College; Police Scotland; Scottish Fire and Rescue; Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership; NHS Grampian; NESTRANS; Skills Development Scotland; Scottish Enterprise; Active Aberdeen Partnership and the University of Aberdeen.