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"UNDER THE SKIN" OF COMMUNITY PLANNING
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1.1 This report outlines the findings of research that was conducted to support the work of the Community Planning Task Force by helping it to gain a better understanding of the development of Community Planning at the level of individual Community Planning Partnerships. The purpose of the research was to get "under the skin" of Community Planning by examining a number of key issues:
- Understanding of, and commitment to, Community Planning
- Community Planning partnership structures, roles and responsibilities
- Different approaches to developing Community Planning
- Achievements and benefits delivered by Community Planning
- Aspirations for the future development of Community Planning
- Challenges and barriers to the development of Community Planning
- Expectations of the Scottish Executive in relation to the development of Community Planning
- Expectations of the Community Planning Task Force
1.2 These themes are examined in the following chapters. Each chapter describes the key issues identified by the research while the final chapter sets out a series of overall conclusions based on the research findings.
1.3 In addition to these general themes the research also examined the relationship between health improvement, as an example of a key cross-cutting initiative, and Community Planning. This aspect of the research was intended to explore how Community Planning partnerships are pursuing specific policy themes within the overall strategic framework of the Community Planning process.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.4 The research was based on 9 case studies in individual Community Planning partnership areas. These areas were: -
- Aberdeen
- Dundee
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Highland
- East Ayrshire
- Argyll and Bute
- Renfrewshire
- Stirling
The research also draws on evidence gathered during a pilot exercise that was conducted in North Lanarkshire.
1.5 The selection of case study areas was intended to reflect the diversity of approaches to Community Planning in different geographical areas. The four city partnership areas of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen as well as Highland were selected in order to provide information about Community Planning for the Scottish Executive's "Cities Review" as well as informing the wider research objectives..
1.6 The research in each case study area involved:
- An examination of published and unpublished documentation produced by each Community Planning partnership.
- Semi-structured interviews with a number of key stakeholders involved in each Community Planning partnership.
The main fieldwork was conducted between April and July 2002.
1.7 Given the constraints of time and budget it was only possible to interview approximately 10 people in each case study area. However, an attempt was made to achieve a broadly representative sample of participants both within each case study area and across all nine areas. This involved identifying key stakeholders from the main partner organisations in each area and attempting to interview people who were involved at the implementation level as well as on the main Community Partnership Board. Representatives from the local authority (at both officer and elected member level), the NHS and the Scottish Enterprise Network were interviewed in each case study area. Representatives from the police, Communities Scotland and the voluntary and community sectors were also interviewed in a number of case study areas.
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