NDA issues draft socio-economic policy

| Print |

E-mail

NDA issues draft socio-economic policy 06-Oct-2006   The NDA has published a Socio-economic Policy for consultation with communities and companies. The NDA has a responsibility to consider the socio-economic impacts of the decommissioning programme on local communities where it has sites, and it intends to work with partners to help mitigate those impacts and create sustainable futures. Specifically, NDA's aim is to have in place a socio-economic policy by April 2007 that addresses priorities around NDA sites, as identified through consultation and research. The socio-economic policy will provide the route for relevant organisations near all the NDA's sites to bid for funding across four main themes. These are: Employment Education and skills Economic and social infrastructure Economic diversification The NDA intends to focus assistance where it is most needed and four priority areas have been identified: West Cumbria Caithness and Sutherland Anglesey and North Wales Dumfries and Galloway Funding for these arrangements will be derived from efficiency savings by the NDA's site contractors as they work towards safer and more cost-effective decommissioning and clean-up. To ensure proper governance arrangements, the NDA has established a Socio-economic sub-committee of the Board which will have an independent Chair. Communities and organisations will now have the opportunity to comment on this policy. The consultation period will end on 19 January 2007. To see the draft policy click here. Socio-economic projects already supported include: Nuclear Skills Academy, West Cumbria -to support skills based training for the nuclear decommissioning industry, including opportunities for school leavers and supply chain employers Determined to Succeed, Dumfries and Galloway - aimed at primary and secondary students, encouraging them to learn about and be prepared for a life of work Anglesey-Funding for an economic review to assist planning work Masterplan for West Cumbria -a study to identify transformational projects to support the long term development of the West Cumbrian economy. Caithness Horizons - to modernise the town hall and library at Thurso for community use including a high quality museum telling the story of the area Gretna Landmark - to raise the profile of the area through the creation of a spectacular landmark North Highland Regeneration Fund, Caithness - to provide pump-priming money to new ventures and existing organisations leading to job creation beyond the nuclear industry in the area around Dounreay Support for Cottage Hospitals, West Cumbria - a three year funding package to support the existing local services whilst a new acute/cottage hospital plan for West Cumbria is developed

 

< Prev		Next >