REVIEW OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICE STRATEGY

1. The existing community support service strategy was approved in the summer of 1999 and accordingly has recently been reviewed; the document, entitled "Expanding and strengthening our support community organisations", has been sent out for consultation to those organisations and interested parties which might be affected by the changes outlined in it.

2. There are over 100 community associations and 300 village halls in the county which provide facilities and services to support local communities and it is the County Council's strategy in respect of them to maintain the quality of Hampshire's cultural assets and to facilitate new development opportunities to enable local communities access to the services and facilities they need.

3. The document stressed the importance of the County Council working in partnership with community associations and village hall trusts and it was felt that the strategy could be enhanced in the future by continuing to provide financial support through both capital and revenue programmes and increasing the provision of advice and support through increased staffing. The major change from the earlier strategy was the greater emphasis on staff support.

4. The Executive Member has approved the draft document for consultation prior to its envisaged adoption in April 2004.