Interim Corporate Plan
Enabling others through partnerships
DDC is committed to working in partnership to achieve the vision
for the district and will work with local communities to seek
different ways of delivering and funding services that are
important to local people. As a District council some very
important priorities identified by our residents sit outside our
remit and control, including skills and education, health and
public transport. However, we do have the ability to be advocates
on your behalf and we shall use our voice to lobby partners and
service providers. We shall also continue our work with community
and voluntary groups and town and parish councils to look at where
it makes best economic sense for these groups to take ownership of
projects and assets.
| You
Said |
We Have |
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Anti-Social Behaviour and reduction
of crime work should remain a priority, with crime levels the most
important thing in making the District a good place to
live.
Fear of crime survey figures show that overall 91% of people in
the district feel safe.
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- We continue to meet and exceed our Crime Reduction targets,
ensuring the area remains one of the safest in Kent. We are
achieving our case closure targets and 96% of people feel safe in
our district.
- We held our fourth Community Safety
Day attended by over 4000 people.
- Worked with other agencies to reduce crime by 19% since
2009.
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Shopping facilities, job prospects and
public transport are in both your top 10 of things to make the
District a good place to live and in the top 10 if things most in
need of improving.
The Council and partners regeneration plans are working towards
investment in these areas.
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- Been awarded Growth Point Status and designated a Regional Hub
and International Gateway by Government, bringing funding to
improve appearance of the district and encourage further inward
investment.
- Lobbied hard and successfully for Dover to have the High Speed
train.
- To promote the area and support the economy we have developed a
Framework and Action Plan to support the London 2012 Olympics. We
have two successful pre-games training camps in the District – Deal
Gymnastics Centre and Fowlmead
Country Park. We held, with Dover Town Council, a street party
to celebrate the Beijing to London handover. With partners a
spectacular firework show was held and attended by approximately
13,000 members of the public to mark the official launch of the
Cultural Olympiad. Followed by 2 days of opening up a range of
buildings and sites, some usually closed to the public, where
specially curated art was presented across 11 different locations.
There are also many plans and preparations to support the Olympic
Torch to arrive through Dover. In June 2009 the Olympic Live Site
screen was installed and so far over 3,000 people have attended
events held around the screen.
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71.3 % of residents agreed that local public services treat all
types of people fairly – we would like to increase this
figure.
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- Supported the Citizens Advice Bureau
through grant funding to continue to provide free, independent
advice to all residents.
- Established and opened the Gateway in Dover, providing
increased services for residents including a whole range of
voluntary and community support services.
- Supported funding for the EU Migrant Helpline to work in the
Gateway.
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Dover District has a higher than average
proportion of residents who feel they belong to their immediate
neighbourhood and we would like to continue to achieve this.
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- Facilitated a street clean up in London Road and supported the
London Road Community Forum to develop a street scene plan, also
facilitating increased youth provision.
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We will (targets for the next 3 years)
- For training and skills: Continue to work with our partners to
offer support and an advocacy role for an improved further
education establishment in central Dover and outreach for all our
residents to access should they so wish. With regards education
provision, we will continue to work with partners to start the
Building Schools for the Future programme to improve school
provision and further improve the learning environment, with
community use facilities, notably leisure.
- For health improvements: Continue to work closely with the
Health agencies to provide an improved health facility in Dover on
a site that is accessible and agreed by all.
- For a safe environment: Maintain our position in the top 5 of
Kent’s safest communities – Ensure 91% of Anti-Social Behaviour
cases are resolved within 30 days.
- Continue to lobby with partners for improved sustainable
transport connections at local, national and regional level.
- In view of the approval to build a major new facility in
Canterbury we shall review the aim in the long-term plan of ‘a
world-class arts and theatre centre in the District’ – but we shall
continue to work on cultural projects linked to regeneration and
tourism and local pride.
- Support the development and ongoing commitment of Community
Forums enabling community led area improvements.
- Continue to work with our communities to support
integration.
- Continue to work with partners to ensure the district supports
and benefits from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Additional interim priorities
- Work in partnership with East Kent Local Strategic Partnership
to deliver the new Sustainable Community Strategy.
- Support the aims of Dover Pride in the development and
realization of the Cultural Strategy.
- Work with Town and Parish Councils to increase the support for
the transfer of public conveniences and other local services.
- Seek an alternative provider for Dover Tourist Information
Centre.
When we developed our Corporate Plan 2008 – 2020 ‘World-Class
District, World-Class Heritage, World-Class Port’ we knew we had
set ourselves some ambitious targets and challenges. However, we
could not have predicted the huge impacts of the international
economic downturn and crises in the banking sector.
It is important therefore to stress that although we remain
committed to those ambitious targets, our timescales may need to be
redefined. This Interim Corporate Plan is a living document that
enables us to react to changing circumstances, whilst still
enabling us to identify, with partners, and seize upon
opportunities to ensure we all continue to make the District a
better place to live, work and visit.
Interim Corporate Plan pages:
Contact
Email: policy@dover.gov.uk
