Councillors will soon review the latest progress on the Community Wealth Building (CWB) action plan as they gather for the Economy and Infrastructure Committee meeting next week.
The Highland Council’s Community Wealth Building Strategy 2024–2027 offers a fresh approach to economic development, focusing on keeping wealth within local communities and ensuring widespread participation in economic activity.
At a Council meeting in September 2024, members approved the CWB Strategy and Action Plan, pledging to provide bi-annual updates on its progress to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, highlighted the significance of the initiative, linking it to the Council’s ‘Our Future Highland’ programme, which prioritises people at its core.
He emphasised that community wealth building has the potential to unite communities, tackle inequality, and drive better outcomes for Highland residents.
Councillor Gowans expressed anticipation for the upcoming review, stating that progress on the action plan would lay the groundwork for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
A public consultation last year gathered feedback over a 12-week period on the draft strategy initially approved in March 2024.
This engagement process shaped the revised strategy and action plan, which now outlines a clear three-year vision for embedding community wealth building across Highland.
The Council’s vision for CWB will be implemented through five key objectives, each aligning with the core pillars of the approach.
These objectives are categorised as ‘Spending’, ‘Fair Employment’, ‘Land and Property’, ‘Financial Power’, and ‘Inclusive Ownership’.
By focusing on these areas, the strategy aims to create an economy that benefits local businesses, enhances job opportunities, and strengthens community resilience.
The upcoming discussion at the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be a crucial step in assessing how these objectives are being met and what further action is needed to achieve long-term economic sustainability for Highland communities.
With community wealth building at the heart of the Council’s economic vision, the strategy seeks to drive lasting change and ensure that prosperity is shared across all areas.
