Four-year plan of priorities for council issued for scrutiny

THE DOCUMENT IS A STATEMENT OF THE AUTHORITY’S AIMS AND ASPIRATIONS

DERBYSHIRE Dales District Council has announced its latest priorities for the next four years as it releases its Corporate Plan 2024-28.

Known as the Derbyshire Dales Plan it acts as a statement of the council’s priorities, aims and aspirations for the coming four years.

The plan, which will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting on July 25, has five key themes.

They are:

■ A thriving environment in the Derbyshire Dales

■ Housing that meets the needs of Dales residents

■ Prosperous and sustainable Dales communities and businesses

■ Resources and services to enable communities to flourish

■ A financially sound, fair and responsive District Council

In the report, which is now available for residents to view online, council leader Cllr Steve Flitter said: “In May 2023, the people of the Derbyshire Dales chose Councillors from the Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties to represent them and we formed the Progressive Alliance to work together for the people.

“This Plan sets out our aspirations, our priorities and the actions we will take to achieve them.

“We want our communities to be prosperous and sustainable with jobs and financial stability for residents. We will work in partnership with other authorities and agencies to successfully attract inward investment opportunities and generate economic development.”

For meeting its environmental targets, the council has outlined its plan to facilitate district net zero by 2040 and biodiversity net gain.

It is also looking at increasing recycling and reducing landfill particularly associated with organic waste, plastics, rare and dangerous elements.

In terms of housing the new report says the council is aiming to deliver a ‘whole District’ housing strategy.

This ‘has at its centre the belief that everyone should have the right and ability to live and prosper within their own community, and that the existing and future housing stock should be fit for purpose in the context of the challenges of climate change.’

It includes maximising the number of affordable homes built, minimising homelessness and stemming the loss of housing stock to second and holiday homes so that they are managed and communities are not lost.

For business the council aims to Encourage the provision of attractive well-paid employment and local career opportunities for residents.

It also aims to influence the mayoral authority to increase the attractiveness of Derbyshire Dales to high value adding, growing sectors and business decarbonisation.

The report also states that the council aims to provide resources and services that create resilience in communities and that enable individuals within them to live fulfilling lives.

This includes ensuring that children across the district have access to safe and well-maintained District Council play areas, and that leisure Centres are operated and maintained to a high standard and meet the needs of residents and visitors.