What you told us - What we're doing

We asked

The play park at Westbrae Crescent in Turriff is in need of upgrading. We asked the local community about the type of equipment they would like to see.

You said

The survey gathered 169 responses. The most popular equipment was a multi play unit, a climber and group swing. Most people were in favour of equipment suitable for both the early years and junior age group. Overall, we received positive feedback to the proposal to make improvements to the play park.

We will

The project to replace several end-of-life units will proceed, with modern, high play, value units that cover a broad age range of children. The chosen units will be shaped by your feedback.

We Asked

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan, or SHIP, outlines the potential affordable housing investment programme over the period 2025-2030 across Aberdeenshire. The main outcome of the SHIP is to enable the delivery of high quality, energy efficient affordable housing.

In summer 2024 people were asked to provide their views and feedback on Aberdeenshire Council’s SHIP 2025-2030. Survey participants were asked to rate the eight main aims of the SHIP 2025-2023 in order of importance, if there were any further broad aims they felt should be in the SHIP, and if they had any further comments regarding the SHIP 2025-2030.

You Said

There were 34 responses to the survey. The feedback has been collated.

The main aims of the SHIP which were deemed as the four most important by participants were:

• Provide social housing for rent
• Prevent and alleviate homelessness
• Provide appropriate housing and support for people with a physical or learning disability
• Provide appropriate housing and support for older people

Survey participants commented on:

Infrastructure and amenities

Participants highlighted the need for housing developments to be supported by adequate infrastructure and amenities such as green spaces, medical care, schools, public transport, and local shops.

Suitable homes for ageing population

Participants felt there is a growing demand for suitable smaller homes for the ageing population who may want to downsize, suggesting that a lack of availability forces them to remain in larger family homes.

Affordable housing

A common response referred to the need for more affordable housing for people, including families, homeless, couples, and key workers, with priority to the provision of social housing and mid-market rent over affordable home ownership.

Empty homes/empty commercial buildings

Some responses focus on utilising empty properties to address housing need. Suggestions include compulsory purchase of vacant residential and commercial buildings, repurpose existing empty council buildings, utilise empty properties to combat homelessness, and create housing on potential brown sites in town centres of which empty buildings currently sit on.

Mixed and sustainable communities

The survey responses highlight a desire for areas of mixed housing developments to promote mixed and sustainable communities. Some desire to ensure that there are no visual and location differences between affordable housing and neighbouring homes.

We Will

Consider all feedback which will help shape and inform future housing developments across Aberdeenshire. The draft SHIP 2025-2030 will be presented to the Communities Committee on the 7th November for consideration and approval.

We asked

The Council is reviewing its current Passenger Transport Strategy, published in 2014.

The updated Passenger Transport Strategy, which will apply from 2025 to 2035, aims to set out the Council’s objectives for Aberdeenshire passenger transport services and incorporates the Council’s general policies for public and other passenger transport. The Passenger Transport Strategy Survey, which was active from the 29^th of July 2024 until the 1^st of September 2024, sought the views of individuals and organisations on the draft outcomes, general objectives and transport objectives proposed in the draft strategy document.

In our survey we asked if:

• Respondents agreed or disagreed with three proposed Strategy Outcomes
• Respondents agreed or disagreed with four proposed Strategy Objectives
• Respondents agreed or disagreed with ten proposed Transport Objectives
• Respondents agreed or disagreed with seven key tasks included in a proposed Action Plan
• Respondents had any comments about the 63 proposed Policies or the strategy wording.

You said

• About two thirds of respondents agreed with all three of the proposed Strategy Outcomes. 91% agreed with the outcome to ‘improve life opportunities and the quality of life for residents of Aberdeenshire, through appropriate passenger transport provision’.
• About two thirds of respondents agreed with all four of the proposed Strategy Objectives. 91% agreed with the objective to “address the barriers which stop people travelling by bus or prevent people from using the bus more often”.
• About two thirds of respondents agreed with all ten of the proposed Transport Objectives. 96% agreed with the objective to “attract investment to enhance transport connections between our towns and villages”.
• About two thirds of the respondents agreed with all seven of the proposed key tasks included in the proposed Action Plan. The highest level of agreement was 77% for the proposed action “Bus Services Network - Review the public transport network in conjunction with implementation of a North-East of Scotland Bus Services Improvement”.
• Over 500 individual comments regarding the policies and wording of the draft strategy were submitted.

We Will

We will use the feedback above to help shape the development of the Council’s 2025 Passenger Transport Strategy. We will provide a further update once the strategy has been completed.

We asked

In Spring 2023, community groups and organisations in Aberdeenshire were asked to provide their views and feedback on Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy documentation, particularly those groups that have previously shown or may have an interest in applying for an asset through the process. The survey consisted of a small number of questions to gather views on the policy, the process, as well as inviting proposals for consideration in the development of the updated policy documentation.

You Said

There were 47 responses to the survey. The feedback has been collated and is available in the ‘Community Consultation Feedback Summary (CAT)’ available by clicking on the link below:-

Consultation Feedback | Community Asset Transfer Policy Review - Consultation | Engage Aberdeenshire

The main points received were:

• The policy is clear, straightforward and includes all the necessary steps for a successful transfer.
• The timescales from making the initial application to the transfer was felt to be onerous and lengthy.
• Greater transparency during the process would be welcomed.
• A request to remove green spaces from being considered for Asset Transfer
• Highlighting the perception that there is inconsistency between the six Areas.
• Suggesting that it would be helpful to create a link between the Local Place Plan process and Asset Transfer process.

We Will

All the feedback was considered by the Review Group in developing the proposed amendments to the policy documentation. Consultation with council services and Elected Members was undertaken.

All consultation summaries were appended to the Area Committee report that was considered by each of the six Area Committees during September and October 2024 (Formartine’s is attached at the link below as an example).

Agenda item - Review of Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy - Aberdeenshire Council (moderngov.co.uk)

A report is now being prepared for Business Services Committee in November 2024 to seek approval of the proposed amendments to the policy documentation.

We asked

Roads and Infrastructure Services is currently undertaking a review of its Winter Maintenance Policy and asked for your views on what should be considered as priorities for winter maintenance, along with any additional feedback.

You said

1831 people responded to the survey. The survey results have been included in a report to councillors, which you can read here (item 9 on the agenda): Agenda for Garioch Area Committee on Tuesday, 27th August, 2024, 9.30 am - Aberdeenshire Council (moderngov.co.uk)

We will

Based on the feedback received, Roads and Infrastructure Services are actively working on further improvements to the website and related processes.

Some examples of suggested improvements that we will be investigating further are:

• Live camera feeds of the road network
• Grit pile locations with a logging feature
• An informative piece on the gritting process
• Expected timelines for treatment completion
• Real-time weather condition updates
• Live updates on road closures due to severe weather

The feedback also highlighted a lack of awareness about existing information and resources we provide to the public, such as the Snow Warden Scheme, gritter tracking, treatment plans, and weather station data. In response to this, we will be raising awareness through social media and promoting through various community groups.

We asked

Aberdeenshire Council was asked to support the establishment of a new Peterhead Town Board as part of the Long-term Plan for Town programme from the UK Government. To enable this, Aberdeenshire Council was asked to appoint an independent Chairperson, to support the appointment of Board Members and to act as the Accountable Body for the programme. We asked:

1. For nominations to the role of Chairperson.
2. For nominations to join the Board as a Member.

You said

We received several nominations for the role of Chairperson. We also received more than twenty nominations for Board members.

We did

Appointment of Chairperson:

After a short-listing process involving representatives for the MP for Banff and Buchan, David Duguid, and taking into account the guidance from the UK Government, four candidates were considered by the Buchan Area Committee on 4^th June 2024.

James Buchan DL was appointed to the role of Independent Chair of Peterhead Town Board

Appointment of Interim Peterhead Town Board:

Aberdeenshire Council supported the new Chair to appoint Board members considering the UK Government Guidance and the nominations received.

Fifteen additional members have been invited to form the Interim Board.

• Seamus Logan, MP*
• Karen Adam, MSP
• Cllr Matthew James*
• Cllr Stephen Smith*
• Steven McDonald, Chief Inspector Police Scotland*
• Alan Sneddon
• Steven Donald
• Gary Addison
• Dianne Beagrie
• Karen Day
• Brian McCombie
• Terry Moran
• Linda Hendry
• Rev. James McMillan
• Scott Will

*Board members required by UK Government guidance

Aberdeenshire Council publishes information about the Peterhead Long-Term Plan and Town Board here: Peterhead Long Term Town Plan - Aberdeenshire Council

We asked

The charity Bairnecessities Baby Bank submitted an Asset Transfer request to take ownership of the former Area Office building and surrounding land in the village of Maud. The proposal was to refurbish the building as a base for the charity and a hub for other organisations offering services to families and children. The charity required better storage facilities for the donated equipment they provide, to enable them to help more families and reduce waste. The community were asked for their views on whether they supported or objected to the proposal.

You said

We received no representations in relation to the proposal. All of the documents relating to the Asset Transfer request can be viewed on the Council’s website by following this link Asset Transfer - Maud Area Office - Aberdeenshire Council

We will

The Asset Transfer request was considered by the Buchan Area Committee on 25 June 2024 and it unanimously agreed that this proposal should be supported. The Council will now formally transfer the former office building to Bairnecessities Baby Bank.

We Asked

We asked for your opinions on, and experiences with, booking certain activities and spaces through the Council’s current booking systems.

You Said

That overall the booking experience with the Council tended to be more negative than positive. You reported issues with completing bookings and difficulty in using our booking systems.

We will

We gathered your feedback and used this to help shape a business case for a new bookings system for the Council. We are currently reviewing the viability of this project. If approved, we will look to develop and implement a new booking system that is more streamlined and user friendly.

We asked

Stonehaven Tolbooth Association (STA) submitted an Asset Transfer request to take ownership of the whole of the Tolbooth Building in Stonehaven. The proposal was to continue to run the museum on the ground floor with the Tolbooth restaurant continuing to operate on the upper floor. In taking responsibility for the whole of the building, STA would also have become the restaurant owner’s landlord. The community were asked for their views on whether they supported or objected to the proposal.

You said

We received 7 representations in support of the proposal with no objections being received. All documents relating to the Asset Transfer request and public comments can be viewed on the Council’s website – Asset Transfer - Tolbooth Building, Stonehaven - Aberdeenshire Council.

We will

In determining all Asset Transfer requests the Council must take into consideration all current Policies and Procedures. The Asset Transfer request was for the entire building which included the restaurant business which provides an annual income to the Council. The Council’s Asset Disposal Policy in general has a presumption against disposal of assets capable of producing an income unless a substantial capital receipt could be generated. Therefore Officers were only able to recommend the transfer of the ground floor with the upper floor being retained by the Council as a commercial income generating asset. On 26 March 2024 the Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee voted to approve the transfer of the whole building to STA for £1. As the decision was contrary to Officer recommendation, in line with the Council’s Governance structure, it at that point required the Asset Transfer request to be referred to the Business Services Committee for final determination. A report was presented to Business Services Committee on 13 June 2024 where Councillors voted to uphold the Officer recommendation taking into consideration the Asset Disposal Policy and therefore the decision was for the Council to retain the upper floor with only the ground floor transferring to STA. The Council will now work with STA to formally transfer the museum on the ground floor.

We asked

If you are a regular user of the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) website, or have used it in the past, we wanted to know what your experience was.

You said

31 responses were received, 40% of responses noted that they did not know about the website. From the comments that where received it highlighted that information is current and that external links work. Improvements are required around site searching and the use of keywords on the website.

We will

The feedback received will be used to improve the service, and it will allow content editors to focus on sections of the website that require attention and improvement.

These are some of the areas we are focusing on:

• Improving site search
• Making navigation easier
• Improving presentation
• Improving quality of information
• Making sure contact details are available and easier to find