Annual Report 2022/23 - Locality Plan Activity Update

The strategic delivery group has continued to meet. The group comprises of representatives from all the islands, service managers, key stakeholders and Community Involvement and Development Officers. A range of topics have been regularly discussed at the meetings, including:

• Health Care
• Transport
• Connectivity
• Housing, and
• Infrastructure.

In December 2022, Shetland experienced a week of extreme weather disruption, with heavy snow bringing down power-lines across large areas of Shetland. This event prompted discussion at the Strategic Delivery group around emergency planning and resilience. A member of the Council’s Emergency Planning team attended, providing information around funding opportunities for communities, and the criteria for this funding. This included details around what funds could be used for, and that an emergency plan would be required for the area.

Ahead of the Short-Term Lets legislation coming into force, the Strategic Delivery group discussed the impacts on the isles and raised questions regarding the legislation. This was shared with members of the Council’s Environmental Health Team (responsible for implementing the legislation), who provided a comprehensive response to be shared with the group. In early 2023 further discussions were held, with a member of the Environmental Health team attending a meeting of the Strategic Delivery group. At this meeting islanders were updated on the extension to the licensing application deadline for people already operating as a host.

Proposals were put forward to call a focus group together, to discuss housing / community-led housing. This was in light of the importance of housing on the islands, and the different options available. The aim of the group being to ensure officials understand each island’s housing need, and is able to support them to find community-led housing solutions.