Improving outcomes in rural communities Parish, Corporate and Community Planning in West Berkshire. Mark Harris Partnerships Manager.

Improving outcomes in rural communities

Parish, Corporate and Community Planning in West Berkshire.

Mark HarrisPartnerships Manager

1. Contents

• West Berkshire – Context

• The Process – Where we are in West Berkshire

• Influencing Policy and Managing Expectation

2. West Berkshire - Context

• Unitary authority - all major services (not 2 tier County/district).• 150,000 population.• 1/2 the land area of the old county of Berkshire.• 74% of the area is designated as part of the North Wessex Downs

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. • Affluent with pockets of deprivation.• Dispersed and ageing population.

• Problems : transport, housing, rural services, workforce skills, anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse.

2. Context

West Berkshire District

3. The Process – Where we are in

West Berkshire

• Engagement with local community

• Respond to sense of distance from communities

• Empowered communities

• Better intelligence

• Responsive, relevant services

Parish Planning – Why?

Our approach – Partnership supporting communities

West Berkshire Partnership

• Funds PP Officer for CAWB.

• Funded Buzz Toolkit (Young People consultation for PPs)

• Help in kind : print, design, analysis advice. (Greenham Common Trust)

• Action Plan Grants : £60k p.a.

• Vibrant Villages Project - £70k (GCT/WBC)

• Does not fund the plans.

Community Action West Berkshire (CAWB)

• Main Delivery Agent• Partnership funded development worker• Provides support and advice to Parish Plan Groups• Advice on sources of funding• Raises awareness about Parish Planning• Works closely with Principal Policy Officer (Community

Planning)

Developing Parish & Town Plans

Parish Plan Clusters

• 5 Parishes in East of District are working on a combined Vision.

• 61 Parishes, 3 Town Councils.

• 46 Parishes active :• 33 published to date.• 5 published last year • 5 refreshing existing plans• another 12+ in development.

• Town Plans• Newbury Town Vision 2025• Hungerford Town Plan• Thatcham Town Plan

Sharing Experiences in Thatcham

Action Planning

Main issues arising from Parishes are :

• Environmental issues – roads, footpaths, planning, countryside.

• Social issues – services and facilities for young and older people.

• Economic issues – transport, access to services, the rural economy.

4. Influencing Policy and Managing Expectations

Locality Planning – Internal Processes

• Growth in number of Parish Plans, so –

• New Process adopted by Council in July 2007:

– Specific Local Community Plan Officer allocated

– Link to LSP

– Quality Audit improved systems for handling Parish plans

– Performance Reporting (soft and hard data)• Triangle Performance Tool

– Identification of trends and issues and management of expectations

Managing Performance

Parish Liaison Officert

Priority Project Service responsible

Actions

INKPEN Andy Day Recycling Improve recycling facilities within village

Bill JennisionCountryside & Environment

Discuss with WBC what schemes and facilities are available for villages.Inform villagers on options through "Bulletin".Agree scheme by March 2006.Approvals and agreements in place June 2006

PARISH CONTACT

PRIORITY

PROJECT WHO RESPONSIBLE

ACTIONS PROGRESS

Delivering outcomes and influencing wider policy

Parish Plan

Action Plan

Parish Plan

Action Plan

Parish Plan

Action Plan

Parish Plan

Action Plan

Triangle database - MASTER ACTION

PLAN

Actions delivered by

Council Police

Health Parish Council

Local people

Voluntary Organisations

Business Other

Key Priorities and Themes included in Council Corporate Plan and LSP Community Plan.

OUTCOMES DELIVERED

COUNCIL & LSPParishes

• CAB outreach sessions for Pangbourne area.• Adult learning classes in Peasemore.

• Inkpen replaced footpath styles with disabled accessible gates.

• Brimpton - improved access to village hall.

• Farmers Markets established in Purley.• Vibrant Villages project funding setup to retain and support local

services – 16 projects now completed• West Berkshire Partnership has funded Holybrook to hold a

summer festival.• Speed limits reduced in various locations & trained local people in

SID use.

Some Achievements

Parish Planning – the Brave New World

• Beacon Peer Project lead authority• 4 Key Modules

– Research – Performance Management – Quality Model– Culture Change

• National Conference

On reflection…..

• This is not about plans or just Planning

• Leadership important

• Have a plan to build, run and maintain

• Some Quality Control is needed

• Resource it – it will develop an appetite – volume and skills

• Think Partnership

• It’s one tool for the neighbourhood and engagement agenda

• Make sure the tools join up.