Sustainable Community Strategy

Why do we have a Sustainable Community Strategy?

The Local Government Act 2000 places a duty on Local Authorities to prepare sustainable community plans for promoting or improving the economic, social and environmental well being of their areas and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

In order to achieve this it must:

• allow local communities (based on geography and interest) to articulate their aspirations, needs and priorities
• co-ordinate the actions of the council, and of the public, private, voluntary and community organisations that operate locally
• focus and shape existing and future activity of those organisations so that they can effectively meet community needs and aspirations
• contribute to the achievement of sustainable development both locally and more widely, with local goals and priorities relating, where appropriate, to regional,
• national and even global aims.
   

Click here to view our Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2020

Who takes responsibility for this?

The Forest of Dean Local Strategic Partnership.  

We are a voluntary partnership that brings together the public, private and voluntary sector agencies responsible for provision of services across the Distrct.

Whist it is recognised that some partners are able to bring more to the table than others all partners have an equal voice within the partnership - see our Code of Conduct

 
How do partners deliver against the Sustainable Community Strategy?

Following a period of consultion running from April - October 2007 the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) for the district was launched at the partnership's annual conference on 28th November.  As this is our key function the Board reviewed its structure at the same time to ensure it was fit for purpose.  The results can be seen in our Local Strategic Partnership Structure Chart.

We now have six delivery groups - each has a two year action plan which is based on key priorities highlighted the Sustainable Community Strategy consultation.

The delivery groups, with the support of the Advisory Group, are now in the process of reviewing their curernt action plans and preparing for the 2009/2012 period. 

Organisations working within the LSP strive to inform people what their organisations can and cannot do;  to enable people to get involved and understand all the redtape; to consult with all areas of the community in a coordinated effecient & cost effective way to seek their views -continusoulsy feeding back against issues; and to empower the community to do things for itself  - to support people to be able to respond and react to their changing environment.