Contact: Jo White Policy Officer 5004

[email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 Hampshire County Council is a key partner on the Hart Local Strategic Partnership which has prepared `Planning the Future of Hart Together' the Hart Community Strategy (see Appendix A). Hampshire County Council approval is necessary for the strategy to be implemented.

2. Background

2.1 The Local Government Act 2000 (LGA 2000) imposed a statutory duty on principal local authorities to prepare Community Strategies for their areas with the aim of improving social, economic and environmental well-being. These strategies must be prepared by a range of partners who agree to work together in a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

2.2 Hart Local Strategic Partnership was established in March 2002. It evolved from an established stakeholder group in the district specifically to prepare and subsequently monitor the Community Strategy.

2.3 A series of themed discussions during the summer of 2002 led to the identification of five priority themes for the Strategy: community safety; health and well being; environment; affordable and safe housing; and transport. Having established those priority themes small working groups were formed to investigate each theme, decide the key areas for work by the Partnership and identify a delivery plan with, if possible, short, medium and longer-term actions. Officers from the County Council led the work on transport and assisted in the work on environment.

2.4 During the first half of 2003 progress on drawing together the ideas and actions emerging from the work the various sub-groups stalled. It was not until towards the second half of the year that the whole partnership was committed to producing a draft strategy for public consultation.

2.5 In January 2004 a special pull-out feature was included in Hart News (Hart District Council's community information newspaper). "Planning for the Future of Hart Together" the draft Community Strategy for Hart.

2.6 The draft Community Strategy was circulated to the Corporate Community Strategy Group for their comments. These comments were fed back to the LSP as part of their consultation process. The document has also been to P&R Scrutiny and Select Committee members.

2.7 This decision supports Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by working together with local people to build strong and safe communities for everyone.

2.8 The relevant local Member's views are taken into account through the LSP mechanism.

2.9 The version of the Hart Community Strategy attached has been amended to incorporate the comments from the Corporate Community Strategy Group and the P&R Scrutiny and Select Committee. The strategy now includes a one year action plan which with a manageable number of three actions for each of the themes: Community Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Environment, Affordable and Safe Housing and Transport.

2.10 The Hart LSP approved the Community Strategy at their meeting on the 16^th February 2005.

2.11 The published Hart Community Strategy will be circulated as soon as it becomes available.

3. Planning the Future of Hart Together 2005-2016

3.1.1 The Hart Community Strategy has been prepared as a result of community consultation and in conjunction with a range of partners.

3.1.2 The detail for the five themes contained in the strategy are listed below. The detail of specific actions that are the responsibility of the County Council is also shown.

3.1.3 The first theme, community safety, is based on the aim of increasing public reassurance and reducing the fear of crime. The actions under this theme are being managed by the Safer Hart Partnership.

3.1.4 The second theme, health and well being, is aimed at increasing the span of healthy life for all and reducing inequalities in health. The lead agency for the three actions identified in this theme is Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT but all LSP members have been tasked with having :

· formal smoking policies that ensure that their work premises and company vehicles are totally smoke free by March 2006.

· on site catering facilities that offer healthy options as part of their menu

· offering employee-supported physical activity programmes to their staff and volunteers.

The Hart LSP should recognise that the County Council and other strategic agencies will need to take a County-wide view of these actions.

3.1.5 The third theme, environment, is aimed at enhancing the environment while providing for the needs of local communities. For the three actions identified in this theme there are different lead agencies. While not a lead agency current activities by Hampshire County Council will contribute towards

· reducing flooding caused by poor surface water and drainage infrastructure ; and

· Engaging in the consultation process on the emerging South East Plan

3.1.6 The fourth theme, affordable and safe housing, is aimed at meeting the housing needs of the community, and provide safe homes in a safe environment.

3.1.7 The final theme, transport, aims to ensure that people can get to essential services. Hampshire County Council is the lead agency for the actions identified under this theme.

3.1.8 In the short term these involve improving the Partnership's understanding of the current and future transport plans being made for Hart and potential role of LSP in achieving:

· An integrated transport system accessible to all; tackling congestion and minimising the impacts of moving people and goods and providing services

Recommendation

That `Planning the Future of Hart Together' be recommended to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources for approval on the basis that the Hart LSP recognises that the County Council will need to take a County-wide view of actions in the Health and Well Being Chapter.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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