Pàrlamaid Dhùthchail na h-Alba F Scottish Rural Parliament Advisory Forum: Main themes and ideas

Objectives Stimulate creative ideas Engage people in the Rural Parliament from the bottom-up Provide recommendations to Scottish Government and other decision makers

Information sources Conferences Survey Twitter debates Local events Working groups Advisory forum

Flow of information Survey Twitter hour Local events Advisory Forum Working Groups Participants Rural Parliament Working Groups Final Document

Rural Businesses & Employment “Scotland's rural economy is vital to the country as a whole.” “This is at the heart of everything. If there is no work, there are no families and communities die and older people become isolated.” “Our job prospects look likely to take us back to the city.” “Young rural entrepreneurs and existing rural businesses need to be helped to start, become established, and have the ability to take on further employment” “We can't afford to just subsidise people to stay in remote areas, create sustainable businesses and the communities will thrive by themselves.” #ruralhour – supportive infrastructure, access to training/education, networking.

Land Use, Planning & Land Reform “With access to land we would be able to tackle a lot of our problems” “Planning needs to be more sensitive to the areas and local people in the planning offices” “This is too critical not to be on the agenda as it is the main blockage to progress and sustainability rooted in social justice.” #ruralhour - Decision-making processes and involvement Barriers: private ownership of land, community capacity, the size of local authorities and a lack of support for democratic decision- making processes such as community councils

Transport Infrastructure “Scotland's rural communities are severely penalised through lack of a proper integrated transport infrastructure” “Access to services, markets, cost of goods and sense of accessibility all related to transport time and ease.” “Seeing people of working age, unable to get employment due to lack of transport and affordability of public transport” #ruralhour – limited engagement

Protecting our natural resources and adapting to environmental change “This is the main driver for most of the other choices. Scotland is about natural assets and we must nurture and protect not destroy - confidence, rural businesses and employment, planning etc will follow on from that” “Once it has gone, then there is nothing left” “Unless we take action to achieve this, and wisely manage our natural resources, all other societal goals will be in jeopardy.” “Paving over areas which were formerly woodland (for example) decreases the natural ability of the land to cope with rainfall and consequently increases run off and flood danger to other existing properties, farmland etc”

Broadband and digital connectivity “Mobile phone signal as without improvements rural businesses will be even more disadvantaged to urban businesses that can 24/7/365 communicate with their customers” “90% of things can or have to be done on line. Due to age and lack mobility most shopping is done on line.” “A basic amenity that underpins all aspects of our life” “Lack of this deters people from moving home / business to rural locations - hence impacts on sustainability of rural communities”

Communities Leading with Confidence “Rural/small communities suffer under prescriptive and distantly based strategic management.” “In the end that is where real sustainability will come from.” “Inclusive, confident and open leadership is vital” “Too often, rural communities are denied a voice; 'talked over' by self-styled 'consultants‘ and 'experts' from elsewhere who decide their future for them.” “Building capacity and capability within our communities, we can generate social and economic growth and we are best placed to do that in ways which protect our environment as we live here.”

Delivery of health and social care “[Important] because of the fragility of rural areas and difficulties in recruiting to 'traditional' models of healthcare delivery (specifically GP recruitment).” “Links strongly to community resilience, employment, education, housing” “Sustainability of communities and the appropriate infrastructure to allow people to live independently in their own homes in good health for as long as possible.”

Overarching themes Rural communities need to be viable for people to live in now and sustainable so that people can live there in the long-term. Rural communities and the people within them should have the same opportunities that other communities and people have. Rural communities are diverse. Community planning & decision-making is key.

Next steps Advisory Forum Working Groups Workshops Rural Parliament Collate information and report

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