The action table is split into six sections, please navigate your way around the table using the links below;

1.Building Commitment

2. Building Capacity

3. Enabling and Co-ordinating

4. Public Accountability

5. Evaluating and reviewing performance

6. Developing Sustainability

Key Areas and Actions

Targets (who)

Year

03/04

04/05

05/06

06/07

1.

Building Commitment

1.1    

Develop a high profile for the GfCI, Greenspace Scotland and local greenspace partnerships with particular focus on biodiversity, access, Open Space Strategies and environmental education

Intranet information updated quarterly. (Settlements group)

Internal communications strategy prepared by March 2004 (Settlements group)

Communications strategy reviewed and updated annually (GfCI steering group

1.2  

 Establish an internal network to raise awareness of Greenspace Scotland, and share information on the GfCI and related settlements issues.

Establish settlements network. (Settlements group)

Produce and circulate quarterly Settlements Newsletter to all SNH offices from June ’03 (Settlements group)

1.3   

Contribute to the development and implementation of Greenspace Scotland’s marketing and communications strategy.

Annually review GS strategy in relation to the SNH communication strategy to ensure their coordination (Settlements group)

1.4  

  Work with partners to maintain a high profile for Greenspace Scotland and local greenspace partnerships through corporate publicity and publications, the internet, and events including training courses and conferences.

Web pages updated quarterly (Settlements group)

Work with partners to plan and run a national conference on urban issues, including the GfCI (GfCI Steering group)

Assist Greenspace Scotland in delivering and promoting 3 national training events (Settlements group)

1.5 

  Engage with key partners to raise awareness of  SNH commitment to the GfCI, and disseminate information about its development.

Circulate the GfCI Plan to existing and potential partners by March 2004 (Settlements Group)

Update information to all recipients of the GfCI plan annually (Settlements Group)

2.

Building Capacity

2.1   

 Ensure that SNH staff have capacity to meet commitments to the GfCI including skills in: partnership development; planning, development and management of greenspace; financial management; and monitoring and evaluation.

Assess training needs and prepare action plan by March 2004 (Settlements Group)

Implement and review action (Settlements Group/Settlements Network)

2.2   

 Provide an advisory and support service to SNH Areas and other Units involved in the GfCI, working with staff to develop relevant knowledge and skills.

Advice and guidance provided as required, and to corporate standards (Settlements Group)

3.

Enabling and Co-ordinating

3.1  

  Include commitment to the GfCI and Greenspace Scotland in the corporate strategy, 2000 – 2010.

Maintain the GfCI as a priority in SNH Corporate Strategy (GfCI Steering Group)

3.2  

  Include commitment to the GfCI in Operational Plans of all Areas/Units involved in its management and delivery to 2010.

Include the GfCI, Greenspace Scotland and local greenspace partnerships in relevant annual operational plans (Settlements group and Areas)

3.3

   Input into annual business and financial planning cycles of Greenspace Scotland and local greenspace partnerships.

Agree business plans of Greenspace Scotland and local partnerships annually by agreed dates (Settlements group and Areas)

Agree and confirm grant offers to Greenspace Scotland and local partnerships annually by agreed dates (Settlements group and Areas)

3.4  

  Work with Greenspace Scotland to create new and develop existing local greenspace partnerships through support by SNH Area and/or national staff.

New partnerships joining GS network; 1 in 2003-4; 2 in 2004-5 (Projects and Partnerships Development Group (PPDG)/Settlements group/Areas)

3.5

    Support Greenspace Scotland in engaging new partners at a national level.

New national partners joining Greenspace Scotland board; 1 in 2003-4; 2 in 2004-5 (Settlements group/GfCI steering group)

3.6

   Work with partners to undertake or commission research to support and develop GfCI, and inform new thinking in greenspace and social policy.

Research strategy prepared by March 2004, (Settlements Group)

Research implemented and strategy reviewed annually (Settlements group)

4.

Public Accountability

4.1 

  Operate robust reporting systems that demonstrate how resources committed to the GfCI are being used.

Annual report on the GfCI published by 31 October each year (GfCI Steering group)

Complete interim and final audit of NOF funding for the GfCI by March 2004 and March 2006 respectively (Financial Incentives Group)

4.2  

  Ensure ongoing financial monitoring and reporting of the GfCI including the member trusts of Greenspace Scotland.

Financial report published within annual report by 31st October each year (GfCI steering group)

4.3  

  Ensure that progress of the GfCI is reported to the New Opportunities Fund as required by the contract.

Quarterly report to NOF through Fresh Futures Management Group (National Strategy)

4.4

    Ensure funding relationships between SNH and local greenspace partnerships enable delivery, monitoring and reporting of progress to both Greenspace Scotland and SNH.

Develop an overview of funding relationships with local partnerships by March 2004 (Settlements group/Areas)

Effective funding relationships, consistent with GfCI aims and objectives, agreed with local partnerships; 3 by 2004-5; 5 by 2005-6 (Settlements group/Areas)

5.

Evaluating and reviewing performance  

5.1  

  Work with Greenspace Scotland to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, including 10 year targets against which the progress of the GfCI can be measured.

Monitoring and evaluation framework agreed with partners by March 2004 (Settlements group)

5.2

    Assess the performance and achievements of Greenspace Scotland and local partnerships against agreed targets (see annex 6).

Assessment against agreed targets included in annual report on the GfCI (GfCI steering group)

5.3

    Monitor action to improve greenspaces in and around settlements across Scotland.

Annually report on SNH grant to greenspace projects across Scotland (Settlements group)

5.4 

   Review performance of Greenspace Scotland and GCVGT in consultation with Trust members.

Performance reviews by September 2004 and March 2005 (PPDG/Settlements group)

5.5

    Evaluate and review the GfCI in consultation with GfCI partners.

Policy review by June 2006 (National Strategy)

6.

Developing Sustainability   

6.1

    Assess factors affecting the ability of SNH and partners to meet their commitments to the GfCI and identify actions to ensure their probability and impact are minimised.             
   

Prepare a risk assessment for the GfCI by March 2004, and review annually (PPDG/Settlements Group)

6.2

    Restate the business case for the GfCI in 2006, re-shaping its priorities to reflect the GfCI policy review

Business case for 2007 – 2012 prepared and submitted by September 2006

6.3 

  Seek to mainstream the GfCI, and the work of Greenspace Scotland and local greenspace partnerships into the work of other agencies and organisations through their inclusion in Community Plans and other relevant corporate strategies/plans.

GfCI priorities are reflected in the Community Plans of partner authorities; half by March 2005, all by March 2007 (Settlements Group)

GfCI priorities are reflected in the Corporate Strategies of partner agencies; half by March 2005, all by March 2007 (Settlements Group)