Delivery Group to take forward Cumbrae Island Plan

Posted on 8 Sep 2022

A new Delivery Group will take the lead in progressing the recently-published Cumbrae Island Plan, which will be used to help drive the development of the island over the next decade.

The establishment of the group means that those who will be affected most by the plan - local people - will lead efforts to ensure its aims are fulfilled.

Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands and also chair of the North Coast and Cumbraes Locality Partnership, said: "This is about empowering our communities to be at the very forefront of the ambitious plans for their island.

"The 10-year Cumbrae Island Plan was published earlier this year and was created and shaped with input from local residents, groups and businesses, indeed anyone with the interests of Cumbrae at heart.

"The Delivery Group will now take forward that plan and ensure its priority themes of community, economy and environment and related actions are delivered.

"As we saw during the Covid-19 lockdown, our island communities very often face a unique set of challenges, and it will take a unique series of actions to address these.

"I'm very positive and confident that the Island Plans - both for Cumbrae and Arran - can and will make a lasting difference."

North Ayrshire Council has collaborated with the Scottish Government and Highland and Islands Enterprise on the development of the ambitious 10-year Island Plans which aim to drive the development of community, economic and environmental wellbeing of Arran and Cumbrae, by addressing long-standing issues faced by both islands. Following the publication of the plans earlier this year, Annual Action Plans have also been drawn up.

Last night (Tuesday, September 6), members of North Coast and Cumbraes Locality Partnership agreed that a new Delivery Group for Cumbrae should take a lead role in turning the plan into action. The group will take responsibility for implementing, monitoring progress, reviewing and refreshing the Annual Action Plan, ensuring that work is driven forward in a collaborative way that involves the Cumbrae community.

For the Cumbrae Island plan, three main themes emerged following the in-depth consultation:

• Community, including reliable ferry provision, affordable and social housing, public transport and infrastructure, and access to services.
• Economy, including resilience of the islands business base, improved tourism and retail offer, and diversification of economy, and
• Environment, including energy costs, climate action and sustainability, protection of the local environment and tourism management.

The next steps in the plan will see a 'Planning and delivering together for Cumbrae' session organised for island stakeholders and chaired by the Chair of the North Coast & Cumbraes Locality Partnership. This will provide an Island Plan update, discuss and agree the scope of the Cumbrae Island Plan Delivery Group and nominate a Chair for the Delivery Group. It is also hoped to agree a quarterly timeline of activity and priorities.

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