The Council's Corporate Plan, Leading our Forest Communities, sets out how the Council will continue to engage with the people of the area to shape the future of the New Forest District. We believe that the previous plan, the Heart of the Forest (2003-2007), has served us well. This new plan retains its Vision and Values, and builds on the key themes and corporate aims. The title reflects the fact that while many organisations have a valuable role in the life of the New Forest, it is the democratically elected District Council that continues to have the mandate to balance social, economic and environment needs, and provide leadership to the many communities of geography and interest which make up this unique place.
Alongside the continuing key themes of prudent financial management, excellent service performance and partnership working we have given increased prominence to environmental sustainability and our determination to reduce the carbon footprint of the Council and the District. We recognise that there is more we can do to enable all our customers to access our services (and other public sector services) in ways that best suit their needs and wishes. We will more actively review our physical assets and determine the feasibility of working from one main office base. And not least, our councillors will seek to engage the people of the Forest in the governance of their affairs so that individuals and communities are enabled to deal with the issues that face them.
We said in the Heart of the Forest that, while all our aims are important, we would give special priority to housing, crime and disorder and the state of our streets and public places. To these priorities we now add empowering young lives and also valuing and supporting older people. Following the damning UNICEF report on the wellbeing of young people in this country, we are keen to join the County Council and others in improving their life opportunities. In an area that has one of the highest elderly populations in the country we want to give increased attention to how we can benefit from their skills and experiences as well as helping provide the best possible care to those who need it.
The plan sits at the top of a family of Council strategies and plans linked to the Sustainable Community Strategy for the whole area. We will use it to drive annual Performance Plans which will set and monitor more detailed Portfolio Plans. Plans by themselves mean nothing without the ability to turn them into action. We have re-ordered this document so that it is completely clear which Portfolio Holder will be taking the lead on which aim. We also have restructured and streamlined our management structure so that it is also clear which individuals and services within each Portfolio are accountable for getting things done.
The Council has an excellent track record for delivering on our promises. We are intent that this does not change, as we set out our aims for the future.
Cllr Mel Kendal Leader | Dave Yates Chief Executive |
