Views sought on two key plans for the community

Views are being sought for two draft documents which will help set the course for public services in Orkney for the next five years and beyond.

The first is the Council Plan which sets out Council priorities for the period 2023-2028.

The second is the Orkney Community Plan 2023-2030. This plan sets out what the Orkney Partnership aims to do collectively to address some of Orkney’s biggest challenges, which no single agency can resolve on its own. The Orkney Partnership, which produces this Plan, have asked the Council to carry out the public consultation on the proposals on its behalf.

The Council Plan has been informed by engagement with Orkney’s residents over the past few years, including the leadup to the Local Government Election in May 2022. It reflects national priorities set by both the Scottish and UK Governments, core services which the Council provides day to day, and new duties arising from recent legislation.

The Council Plan proposes three key themes:

• Growing our Economy.
• Strengthening our Communities.
• Developing our Infrastructure.

These are underpinned by an overarching theme of Transforming our Council – aimed at providing the foundations to support staff to improve customer service and performance.

The Orkney Community Plan (Local Outcomes Improvement Plan) for 2023-2030 is produced by The Orkney Partnership. Five agencies share in the facilitation of the Partnership – the Council, NHS Orkney, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with many others including local third sector organisations helping steer the Community Plan and contribute to its implementation.

The Orkney Partnership has set its sights on achieving net zero in Orkney by 2030, but is acutely aware of the immediate problems facing Orcadians today. This is reflected in the three strategic priorities in the new plan:

• Cost of Living
• Sustainable Development
• Local Equality

The documents are available to download below.

Council Leader James Stockan is also Chair of the Orkney Partnership: “I would urge the Orkney public to take a look at the priorities of the Council and our vital partners as set out in these two documents, and to have their say.

“The plans set out our ambitions to grow our economy and support our community which has never been more important as we face the twin challenges of covid recovery and a cost of living crisis. In developing these plans we now need the input of our community to help keep us on a path which truly embraces community needs and aspirations.”

The survey closes on Friday 20 January at 5pm.

Document Downloads

• Draft - Council Plan 2023-28 - (1.3 MB)
• Draft - EqIA for Council Plan 2023-28 - (192 KB)
• Draft - ICIA for Council Plan 2023-28 - (198 KB)

• Draft - Orkney Community Plan 2023-2030 for consultation - (1.3 MB)
• Draft - Orkney Community Plan 2023-2030 EqIA - (128 KB)
• Draft - Orkney Community Plan Draft 2023-2030 ICIA - (237 KB)