Maidstone Borough Council and Maidstone
Borough's Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) have been working over
the last year to develop a
new Sustainable Community Strategy for Maidstone
Borough 2009-20, building on “Maidstone Matters”, the
first community strategy for the borough of Maidstone (adopted
2003).
We have listened to your ideas and used them to develop the
following, Vision, Objectives and key Actions. Click on the link
above for a full copy of 'Maidstone 2020'.
Our Vision is that:
We want Maidstone Borough to be a vibrant, prosperous
21st century urban and rural community at the heart of
Kent, where its distinctive character is enhanced to create a safe,
healthy, excellent environment with high quality education and
employment where all people can realise their aspirations.
Our objectives to achieve the Vision are to:
· Develop a vibrant
economy, create prosperity and opportunities for all.
· To develop an
efficient, sustainable, integrated transport system.
· Build stronger and
safer communities.
· Create healthier
communities and support older people to lead more active and
independent lives.
· Make Maidstone
Borough a place where people of all ages - children, young people
and families - can achieve their aspirations.
· Develop Maidstone
Borough’s urban and rural communities as models for 21st
Century quality and sustainable living.
· Build a
thriving sporting, creative and cultural life for all.
· Retain and
enhance Maidstone Borough’s distinctive history, landscape and
character.
Our cross cutting objectives are:
· Tackle health,
education and employment inequalities in areas of disadvantage.
· Establish
Maidstone Borough’s reputation as a place for environmental
excellence and action on climate change.
· Public
agencies and their partners to undertake a programme of continuous
community engagement and work with communities to resolve their
issues at the community level.
We realise that this visionand objectives are particularly
challenging in the current economic climate. However, we feel that
at this time, as well as dealing with immmediate problems, we
should look forward to a brighter future, recognising that we may
need to adjust our plans in the future depending on resources.
Our key actions are:
· Increase
youth facilities and services
· Tackle
anti-social behaviour
· Regenerate the town centre and make
more of the river
· Pursue
the construction of more affordable homes to meet local need and
bring empty homes back into use
· Develop
stronger licensing powers to tackle alcohol abuse and related
crime
· Develop
transport and parking strategies to reduce congestion
· Support
with schools and the county council measures to improve GCSE
results in schools and preparing people for work
· Attract
and retain higher paying employers in the Borough
· Work with
schools to maximise the use of their facilities for sporting
activities for all ages
· Create a
task force to tackle health, education and employment inequalities
in areas of disadvantage
· Further develop with the
health service a community health programme to tackle obesity,
smoking, alcohol abuse and improve sexual and mental health
· Campaign with the county
council to reduce the high levels of deaths and injuries on the
roads
· Develop and implement carbon
reduction and climate change adaptation plans ie against
flooding
A range of community engagement and consultation activities
contributed to the development of the SCS. Reports relating to
these are listed as links below:
Meetings with
partners
Meetings with
parish councils
Forums and
interest groups
External Overview and Scrutiny Committee
IPSOS
Mori Focus Groups
Road show and web portal results
Place Survey
For further information, please contact the Community Planning
Co-ordinator on 01622 602246 or e-mail jimboot@maidstone.gov.uk.