This Sustainable Community Strategy sets out our long term vision for Somerset in 2026. Our Vision brings together the views of local people and local organisations. It has six aims for the people of Somerset and you can view these at Aims.
When we talk about the Strategy being sustainable we mean many things, including:
The Somerset Strategic Partnership (see Who will make it happen) has produced this Strategy. It is based on the vision and priorities of the previous Community Strategy which was agreed in 2004. Equality principles and meeting the needs of our diverse communities have influenced us in the way we have updated it. Strengthening communities to be more resilient to change and more self-sufficient is at the heart of what we have set out to do.
Shaping the Strategy
The Strategy will help us decide where and how we should work together for the benefit of Somerset. It guides us in deciding what actions to take and how best to use resources over the coming years. We have listened to members of the public including young people; representatives from all levels of local government especially parish and town councils; local business people; local voluntary and community groups and public bodies such as the NHS Somerset and Hospital Trusts, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency and Somerset colleges.
Making it happen
We identify the main challenges to achieving each of the aims and what we will need to do to make the aims happen. The challenges and actions are based on what service users have told us, published statistics and information from the organisations mentioned above. We have highlighted the things we will do first to meet the most pressing needs. These have been agreed with the Government in the Somerset Local Area Agreement (LAA) (see What we will do first).
National and regional priorities and plans affect the county. These include improving the local economy, providing more homes, encouraging lifestyles and reducing the carbon released into the air.
Working together
Our Vision for Somerset and what we are setting out to do is underpinned by the information in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment produced by NHS Somerset and Somerset County Council. The Strategy’s ambitions will also be delivered through our strategies and plans such as the Community Cohesion Strategy, Children and Young People’s Plan, the Somerset Biodiversity Strategy, the Local Transport Plan and the Somerset Housing Strategy amongst others.
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