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Strategies
1. 2. Stimulate effective means of transport adapted to the needs of the business community, in order to build robust regions and increase value creation. Work towards a considerable improvement in the standard of the E6 as the common overland infrastructure in the northern regions, together with a considerable rise in the standard of land and sea infrastructures in order to achieve more efficient sea transport. Help make arrangements for well-functioning east-west links that act as transport corridors in and out of the country. Establish an environmentally-friendly, sustainable, co-ordinated and inclusive system of public transport with particular emphasis on urban areas, transport corridors and daily and weekly commuters. Public transport in Nordland shall, by way of existing scheduled services, collaborate more closely with the travel and tourism industry in such a way that Nordland is regarded as a county of tourism. Secure trade and industry and the population a good, clean water supply in accordance with international standards and requirements, with the help of both new and upgraded water supply facilities. Fresh water supplies are a resource that must be safeguarded against external forces in order to maintain good quality. Contribute towards the establishment of an infrastructure that will provide all parts of the county with access to broadband internet. Contribute towards the establishment of ICT solutions that help promote the positive development of small communities, particularly when it comes to reducing the difficulties caused by long distances. Manage electric power resources in a strategic and best possible way, and deal with aspects concerning security and preparedness.
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“The County Plan shall also lay down guidelines for the use of land areas and natural resources in the county with regard to issues that may have considerable effect beyond the borders of a municipality or that the individual municipality cannot solve within its own area and that must be seen in conjunction with several municipalities.” The guidelines have been developed in collaboration between regional government departments and the County Council and are binding under this agreement. The guidelines provide the County Council and government departments with the opportunity of lodging objections. When exercising authority the County Plan shall be used as a tool for achieving regional adaptation.
FORRETNINGSTRYKK AS, BODØ • PHOTO FRONT PAGE: TERjE RAKKE NORDIc LIFE • TRANSLATION: ROBERT WALKER, DATADESIGN
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communities and support networks to make arrangements for mobilisation and increased value creation in local communities and businesses. Strengthen market orientation and innovation in the travel and tourism industry. We must focus on the customer within the fields of competency, profiling and destination development and appear as a complete and attractive destination. From resource to value creation in the fisheries and aquaculture – a greater degree of local processing, i.e. contribute towards promoting competitive advantages for Nordland’s marine business communities by helping to facilitate collaboration, the accumulation of knowledge, the exchange of experience and industry-related research. Contribute towards the development and management of the potential involved in renewable energy. Work for good and predictable framework conditions for the process industry and support development work based on this industry. New oil and gas fields on the Nordland shelf will create a considerable effect in other parts of the county, too. Increased activity will also provide opportunities for business development in conjunction with the associated environmental issues. Contribute towards the establishment of profitable jobs and a more robust and wide-ranging business structure in the various municipalities, so that dependency on one single line of business is reduced. Help increase efforts made on winter and wildnerness tourism. Further develop business gardens, research parks and knowledge parks in Nordland into first-rate communities for the development of competency and the commercialization of business ideas.
Strategies
1. 2. Establish and develop institutions that can manage regional tasks in order to promote robust regions. Regional partnerships are one such important institution. Increase accessibility to enable more people to gain access to regional labour markets and services. Accessibility is increased by the development of communications, traffic schedules and infrastructure. The further distribution of broadband internet in the county is part of the strategy of increased accessibility. Create regional identity through a wide range of cultural activities with local and regional footing. The establishment of new meeting places for sports and culture, together with the use of existing ones, is a key aspect in this respect. To a large extent this should be targeted at children and young people in order to reinforce the long-term aspects of regional development. In order to secure human settlement, value creation and viable communities, arrangements must be made to encourage young people to settle in Nordland after the completion of their education. Young people should, to a greater extent, be involved in the development of regional assets. Participation by young people can take place at various different arenas in the municipality, like politics, culture and school. Make arrangements for increased co-operation on common issues and common solutions both within and outside of regional centres. Partnership agreements should be given a more prominent role in this work, and the Sami perspective should be integrated into local community initiatives. The cities of Nordland must accept special responsibility for local communities and neighbouring municipalities in order to contribute towards growth and development in the region. Bodø’s role as county capital must be strengthened so that the city can, to a greater extent, take on national and regional tasks. Nurture and strengthen Nordland’s position in the northern regions. Areas of focus include stability, sustainable use of resources, environmental surveillance, travel and tourism, and collaboration with other regions with regard to indigenous peoples.
Spatial Policy Guidelines
Infrastructure Result area goals:
To develop an effective and sustainable technical and physical infrastructure that meets the requirements of the inhabitants and a competitive business community. Land use policy in Nordland is based on current legislation and regulations together with national and regional provisions. This chapter provides guidelines for important areas of policy and for the systematic use and protection of land areas at all county levels. The County Council is responsible for co-ordinating spatial policy at regional level.
The Planning and Development Act’s § 19-1:
NORDLAND COUNTY PLAN
2008-2011 – County of growth that seizes opportunity SHORT VERSION
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Land Use Goals
Land use in Nordland must be sustainable and provide a predictable framework for trade and industry and the population. Strategies and spatial policy guidelines are described in more detail in the brochure entitled “Spatial Policy in Nordland 2008-2011.”
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Regional development Result area goals:
To create, through co-operation, robust and sustainable regions that form a basis for increased value creation and prosperity in Nordland.
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Fylkeshuset NO-8048 Bodø Tel. +47 75 65 00 00
Introduction
The Nordland County Plan for 2008-2011 has been prepared in collaboration with Partnerskap Nordland, municipal boroughs, regional councils, governmental regional bodies and the business community in the county. In addition to this, a regional foresight process has been carried out in conjunction with visions of Nordland in 2020. The County Plan should be seen in context with the ongoing debate on the new regional reform (coming into effect on Jan. 1, 2010), the new Planning and Development Act and increased focus on goal and performance-oriented management. The County Plan will be followed up by a Regional Development Programme for Nordland 2008-2011, where essential measures within the theme of the County Plan will be developed in collaboration with a variety of social actors. The Development Programme will be rolled forward annually. The plan is a strategic document built on a vision, superior goals, common perspectives and result areas with their respective strategies. In the description of the result areas, emphasis is placed on illustrating how they can contribute towards the achievement of superior goals and be instrumental in the maintenance of common perspectives. In addition to this, the plan includes spatial policy guidelines. Concrete measures pertaining to each strategy will be presented in the Development Programme for Nordland 2008-2011. The direction in which a society develops is determined by the framework conditions in effect at any given time, together with trends and individual choices made by the people. But development is also determined by conscious policy – and we can influence our development! The County Plan is a tool with which we can co-ordinate the efforts of public actors in the development of Nordland. Active use of the County Plan and Development Programme for Nordland can help us bring about common mobilisation in the most important fields and achieve better results than we can on our own. The County Plan is a tool for all actors in Nordland.
Superior Goals
Joint efforts for a common future
Joint efforts will secure future settlement and growth in the county. A common understanding of challenges and opportunities will be created by way of co-operation across and between administrative levels, actors and sectors.
Nordland will be active and visible in projects in the northern areas
In Nordland we will create comprehensive solutions for the sustainable use of natural resources, and intensify efforts to develop new knowledge about the northern areas. Our contribution will be decisive with regard to national northern areas policy.
Result areas and their respective strategies
Competency Result area goals:
The level of competency must be improved and new knowledge developed and put to use in accordance with the needs of individual and industry. 8.
Taking advantage of potential in Nordland
Nordland shall have a competitive business community that is willing to readjust and is focussed on quality. Knowledgebased businesses will offer stimulating jobs for well-educated young people.
creating strong Living, Work and Service regions (LWS)
Nordland shall be characterized by strong regional centres/cities that act as bases for knowledge-based businesses and a wide range of services and cultural offerings. At the same time, there shall be viable rural districts and small communities with stable jobs and a favourable age and gender distribution. Good communications create a balance between centre and surrounding districts and considerable opportunity for moving both ways.
Strategies
1. 2. Develop and reinforce regional and county level networks and infrastructures that contribute towards knowledge-based regional development. Offer flexible educational courses that can be distributed locally, i.e. the development of tailor-made, flexible and modular educational courses based on the needs of the individual and trade and industry. Develop binding collaboration between educational institutions and industry. In order to secure recruitment and contribute towards the development of future jobs, co-operation via networks and partnership agreements must be further developed. Offer a co-ordinated career guidance service for young people and adults. Strengthen the role of colleges of further education as central actors in the process of regional development, i.e. expert resources must be exploited in new areas beyond traditional teaching. At the same time, the role of colleges as network builders between local industry and economic life, the educational system and research communities must be further developed and reinforced. Development of an internationalised Nordland through the increased accumulation of competency and the exchange of knowledge across national borders, i.e. language and cultural understanding and the need for professionalisation in a variety of areas (research-based knowledge). Increased efforts to ensure that a greater number of young people complete their education. A decentralized further education structure will ensure that as many as possible can live at home during their education. For those living away from home, greater effort must be 9.
Good framework conditions for trade and industry
In Nordland, work shall be done actively and systematically in order to provide the business community with predictable framework conditions. We will play an active role in relation to national and international authorities in order to influence agreements and legislation.
Creating strong local communities
A number of municipalities and areas in Nordland are coloured by district and small communities. These are hardly likely to have what it takes to become part of a strong LWS region. A large percentage of the population still wishes to live in small communities. 3.
VISION: Nordland – county of growth that seizes opportunity
Nordland offers quality and diversity, and we work together to: • be the best county with regard to the environment and culture • create entrepreneurship and an innovative and strong business community • develop an education system for the future and stimulating jobs • take advantage of potential along the world’s most beautiful coastline • create positive experiences and quality of life, and be foremost in the field of public health
made to ensure better accommodations and increased follow-up. Counselling/student services must be developed and reinforced and measures must be taken to increase efforts to help students on the verge of dropping out. Strengthen higher education and research communities. Improve longer term education with an increased number of post-graduate Master and PhD degrees. R&D institutions must be further developed as communities for commissioned research, competitive on a national level and with relevance to regional business and society. Active participation in national and international networks is important to both higher education and research institutions. Increase R&D activity in trade and industry. An innovative and internationally competitive business community requires research and development to be carried out in the businesses themselves. It is important to further develop government measures designed to stimulate businesses, and to strengthen co-operation between businesses and research communities at both national and international levels.
Experience of Nordland characterised by quality and diversity
In Nordland we will offer and draw attention to enjoyable experiences in conjunction with tourism and culture. There is an element of physical activity and quality of life involved in such experiences. The population of Nordland will not only have something to live off, but also something to live for.
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Innovation and entrepreneurship Result area goals:
Develop a future-oriented, innovative and profitable business community that provides attractive jobs and quality living conditions. This will be achieved by the utilization of Nordland’s resources and improvements in the infrastructure necessary for innovation, entrepreneurship and R&D work.
Diversity and Quality in Nordland – common perspectives
The County Council has made several fundamental decisions asserting a firm position in a number of important issues. These standpoints are intended to form the basis for all County Council activity. It is also the County Council’s express desire that the same position be taken by everyone working in conjunction with social development in the county. This means, amongst other things, that these common perspectives must be taken into account when the Regional Development Programme is being developed. The common perspectives are as follows: • The environment and sustainable development • Nordland – a community for everyone • Equality and diversity • Nordland’s Sami population • Internationalisation • Young people and young adults • Public health
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Strategies
1. 2. 3. Promote knowledge-based business development by securing access to a coherent educational system and new teaching methods in innovation and entrepreneurship. Promote culture-based business development by making arrangements for profitable, robust and expandable businesses based on various forms of culture. Contribute towards increased activity in the search for, and utilization of, mineral resources by processing interesting geological information and presenting it to commercial enterprises. Promote the environmental and cultural aspects of agriculture. This is a strategy that invites development
The Future in Nordland
Nordland in 2020
• • • • • • • A society for everyone! A future for young people! Quality of life! Positive experiences and tourism! Strong business community! Innovation! Communications and housing!
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