FITCC members take part in community focused groups and attend monthly meetings to represent the Community Council.
Below is information on these groups and organisations.
FW2040 Community Stakeholders' Group
A FW2040 Community Stakeholders' Group was established in August 2022. The purpose of the group is to ensure clear, regular two-way communication and reporting between the FW2040 Programme Board and Community Stakeholders.
Stakeholder representatives can discuss individual projects and communicate their views and ideas to the FW2040 Programme Board. It is also a means to identify opportunities where stakeholders can actively assist in progressing individual projects, and it contributes to the overall collaborative approach that underpins FW2040.
The group also meets quarterly, mid-way between Board meetings.
Organisations represented on this group are:
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Ardgour Community Council
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Caol Community Council
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Fort William, Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council
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High Life Highland Adult and Youth Services
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Highland Council Ward 11 - Councillor John Grafton
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Highland Council Ward 21 -
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Kilmallie Community Council
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Lochaber Environmental Group
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Nether Lochaber Community Council
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Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council
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Voluntary Action Lochaber
This group is Chaired by Dr Michael Foxley of Ardgour Community Council. The Chair also rotates on an annual basis.
FW2040 Transport Sub-Group
This group was re-convened in April 2023. Its purpose is to maintain oversight of all FW2040 Masterplan projects which contribute to the theme of making Fort William 'A Connected Place'.
These include:
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Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) and the development of an Integrated Transport Plan for Fort William
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Active travel infrastructure
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Public transport improvements (road, rail and marine)
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Electric vehicle infrastructure
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Trunk road resilience and improvements (A82, A830, and Banavie Swing Bridge operation)
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Local road network improvements
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Helicopter landing site
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Transport infrastructure for new housing, business and leisure developments
The group aims to facilitate and progress projects through effective partnership working between relevant delivery organisations, both on and out with the FW2040 Board. In particular, it is intended to assist Transport Scotland with their development and delivery of an Integrated Transport Plan for Fort William, per Recommendation 32 of STPR2. The group will be a key local point of reference and assistance for Transport Scotland as they undertake this work.
Organisations represented on this group are:
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Highland Council
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Fort William, Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council, Caol Community Council and Kilmallie Community Council
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Transport Scotland
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Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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HITRANS
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NHS Highland
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Scottish Canals
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Fort William Active Travel Group
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West Highland Community Rail Partnership
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Lochaber Chamber of Commerce
The group is Chaired by Tracey Urry, Highland Council's Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure, Environment and Economy. The Chair rotates on an annual basis.
Lochaber District Planning Group
The Purpose of the District Planning Group (DPG) is:
To provide a forum for professionals, communities and individuals to collectively develop and
deliver locality plans based on the Joint Strategic Plan and local need. They form a key
component of the devolved responsibilities under the Public Bodies (joint Working)
(Scotland) Act 2014
Their specific purpose is to:
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Develop a locality plan and agree plans for the delivery of actions at a local level
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Influence priorities for their local area
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Review and report on the locality plan to the Strategic Planning group.
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Ensure plans are in place to engage regularly with people at a community level.
Lochaber Area Place Plan
In 2021, Highland Council made a commitment to develop Area Place Plans (APPs) mainly based on Area Committee boundaries. The Plans are being developed and facilitated in various ways across Highland, as each area is different.
Area Place Plans set out the vision, ambition and priorities for people and place in that particular area. This will support targeting resources, service delivery and provide a clear vision for attracting external investment. The APPs will help the Highland Council, partners and communities secure funding by evidencing the impact of every pound spent and the actions associated will provide clarity and manage expectation around how and where resources are prioritised. They will also provide a stronger framework for communities to prepare more local plans empowering them to drive and deliver change.
We appreciate there are a number of plans which inter-relate with the APPs, including Local Place Plans (LPPs), the Highland-wide Local Development Plan (LDP), the Highland Outcomes Improvement Plan (HOIP), the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) and the Community Partnership Plans. The information gathered from this Area Place Plan Participation site will be shared with colleagues working on those plans, and will minimise repeated consultations (this does not necessarily mean that there will be no other consultation from other Plans).