Dover District Public Service Agreement

Better Services for the People of Dover District

View the Dover District Agreement, this is a PDF Document

A Dover District Public Service Agreement has been signed between Dover District Council and Kent County Council.

Together with a number of partners we are committed to work on a range of challenging targets to deliver real improvements in public services at a local level.

The targets respond to issues identified by local people as being of importance to them, their families and to the environment.

In February 2001, Kent County Council (KCC) signed a Public Service Agreement (PSA) with central government; one of the first in the country that provided a model for other local authorities. The Kent Agreement has brought many benefits to the County including financial reward, freedom from regulation and improved public services and quality of life for the people of Kent. At the outset, KCC made a commitment to share the reward element with partners – hence District Public Service Agreements.

The Kent Agreement took as its overarching theme:

‘ Reducing dependency – increasing employment and fulfilment’

This theme is echoed in the District PSA’s and targets include:

• Supporting Independence: Quality of life for older people
• Increasing housing options for older people in the Dover District
• Prevention of admission to hospital for vulnerable older people
• Supporting Independence: Increasing fulfillment and employment
• Increased parental involvement in schools
• Increased attendance rate at primary schools
• Community Safety
• Reduction in criminal damage
• Improving the environment
• Reducing levels of fly tipping
• Promoting healthy communities
• Improving children and young people’s emotional and mental health
• Supporting adults with mental health problems in the community

All of the targets within the Dover PSA have been chosen to improve the quality of life for residents locally and to encourage sustainable communities. The targets are recognised not only in their contribution to residents and communities, but also in their reflection of the themes set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan and the District Community Strategy.

This three-year agreement could add up to more than £1/4m funding for services in the district if a range of key targets is met. The extra money will be paid out of the performance reward grant that KCC has secured from the Government.

Partnership working is an important part of the Public Service Agreement and it is supported by the commitment of a range of partners in the community including health, the Police and local schools.

The agreement was launched at a special event on Tuesday 7th December attended by a range of community representatives, with speeches from Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart, Leader of Kent County Council and Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council.

Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Leader of KCC said: “We are delighted to launch the Public Service Agreement for the Dover District, an agreement between Kent County Council and Dover District Council to work together on a range of challenging targets. We are confident that the agreement will be an instrument for delivering real improvements in public services at a local level.”

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of DDC, said: “Dover District Council has a well established history of partnership working and this will provide an excellent basis for delivering the targets in this agreement. We look forward to working together to build a thriving, safe and purposeful community in the District that is well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

View the Dover District Public Service Agreement, this is a PDF Document

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E-mail: policy@dover.gov.uk