Shetland Islands Council

Community Services and Facilities

Topic goal

To promote development which maintains or improves the social and economic well-being of communities, ensuring as far as possible that all forms of community facilities, including health and social care, education and recreation opportunities are available and accessible to Shetland's entire population

14.1 Despite its relatively isolated position and low population, the community facilities and services provided in Shetland are extremely good. The traditional pattern of dispersed housing does however, make provision and maintenance of these facilities challenging. The Council's Structure Plan strategy supports these facilities by encouraging development within existing settlements where community facilities already exist. Many agencies are involved in providing services and it is becoming increasingly important for the Council to work in partnership with the strategies and development plans of other public agencies and the voluntary and charity sectors. The joint nature of the Community Care Plan is a good example of the partnership approach.

Accessibility

14.2 Access to a range of services, learning opportunities, knowledge and facilities is an important aspect of quality of life. Whilst the cost and practical difficulty of travel, both to, from and within Shetland affect most households, it is a severe problem for those on low incomes, the disabled and the elderly. The Council's support for central government's initiative on social inclusion, which is "a process to enable all members of society to participate in all aspects of life", should assist in heightening general awareness of the need to cater for all. Car ownership in Shetland is high, but in rural areas with limited public transport, a car is often a necessity rather than a luxury.

14.3 Difficult access to essential local services, and a lack of local job opportunities are just two of the problems the Structure Plan strategy seeks to address by focusing development on established settlements.

Health and Welfare

14.4 Health and welfare care from 'cradle to grave' are perhaps the most important community services available to people in Britain today. In Shetland the Council provides a range of care services, with health care provided by Shetland Health Board. The Health Board provides local hospital and community health services which are augmented by visiting specialists from the Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust (ARHT) and Grampian Health care NHS Trust (GHT).

14.5 Community Care is led by the Council in partnership with Shetland Health Board, Shetland Welfare Trust and the independent and voluntary sector. Within the Council, the Housing Education & Community Work Services contribute to various aspects of Community Care, as well as Social Work, depending on the issues that are to be addressed. The Council is committed to the continuous improvement in the level and quality of community care services, by promoting better integration and planning

14.6 The Government's objective is to "modernise Community Care" by providing more choice and more targeted services within home settings. In 1998, the Council and Shetland Health Board published their Joint Community Care Plan for the period 1998-2001. The plan (a statutory requirement) must reflect these initiatives and will lead to increased demand for specially adapted houses/accommodation for those suffering from disabilities.

Education

14.7 Education facilities are important focal points in local communities. The network of modern Primary, Junior High and High schools built by the Council over the past forty years or so, is a valuable investment for the future. The trends in primary pupil numbers are a good indicator of community well-being and stability. Recent primary school rolls highlight the drift of population away from the rural areas and the growing centralisation of demand in the areas around Lerwick. The current school building programme reflects this pressure. Education in its fullest sense will remain a top priority for the Council, in recognition of its role in self-fulfilment and job-creation. The Council recognises that lifelong learning, available to everyone, is essential to the future prosperity of Shetland. The Council is committed to continuous improvement of facilities for people with learning difficulties, through local facilities and outreach working. The Council will continue to support further education and play an active role in the development of the University of the Highlands and Islands. To respond to the rapidly changing employment market, it is essential that the Council plays its full part in the provision of a highly educated, motivated and informed workforce.

Leisure, Recreation and The Arts

14.8 Leisure, recreation and the arts are important components of civilised life. Impressive recreation and community facilities have been provided by the Shetland Recreational Trust, in line with the Council's policy statement adopted in 1983. The strategy established a three tier hierarchy of provision, with Lerwick as the location for specialist leisure provision, and the recreation centres developed along-side the Junior High schools as the second tier. Community Halls throughout Shetland complete the network of facilities. The construction of the Westside Leisure Centre at Aith will complete this programme, giving a total of 4 comprehensive leisure centres including swimming pools, in Lerwick, Yell, Unst and Whalsay, with four additional swimming pools at Brae, Scalloway, Sandwick and Walls. Following on from the 1983 Policy Statement, the Council has prepared a draft Sports Development Policy, which sets the framework for sports provision and development in a variety of contexts across Shetland. There is little development pressure within Shetland that may result in the loss of public open spaces, including playing fields . However, given the important contribution these uses make to the quality of life for local people, it is important they are retained for future generations to enjoy.

14.9 Shetland also enjoys a rich and distinctive many-faceted heritage, which is the foundation for the Islands' way of life today. An excellent network of community museums and interpretative centres, which are generally run by volunteers, has developed throughout the Islands. After many years a site at Hays Dock in Lerwick has recently been acquired for the building of a new museum and archives for Shetland. This will replace the existing museum at Hillhead, Lerwick. The Shetland Islands Council's 'Strategy for the Arts' is linked to the Shetland Arts Trust's Four Year Plan. The objectives of the Arts Trust are to encourage, stimulate and promote interest in, and understanding of, artistic and related pursuits among the inhabitants of Shetland.

All Shetland communities are well served by Primary Schools. (Photograph: SIC)

Partners

Strategies

Plan Performance Indicators

• The location of planning consents granted for new community facilities.