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Allerdale council sets out how it will improve lives and futures for local residents

Jonathan Irving

Jonathan Irving

Posted on 14 May 2021

Allerdale Borough Council’s Executive committee set out its key priorities and objectives for the next 12 months at its meeting on 12 May 2021, as it seeks to deliver its Council Strategy by continuing to provide excellent services, and help local communities thrive and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The council’s ambitious Delivery Plan for 2021/22 sets out the main projects and activities that will be prioritised over the next 12 months. All the projects fall under the key priorities contained in the Council Strategy. 

These are:  

  • A financially secure council  
  • A cleaner, greener Allerdale  
  • Invest to grow  
  • Outstanding local services
  • Thriving towns and villages
  • Resilient communities  

 The Delivery Plan also includes key performance indicators to monitor progress against the plan and ensure key deadlines are met, or good levels of service are maintained or improved upon.   

Some of the key projects set out in the Delivery Plan are to continue work with the government on local government reorganisation in Cumbria, work more effectively with other councils, and explore any possible opportunities for more outdoor markets.

There are also plans to increase action to tackle fly-tipping, promote recycling initiatives and implement the climate change action plan. To help businesses and bring investment into the borough, the council has set out plans to deliver on key infrastructure and regeneration projects – such as in Maryport and Workington – as well as further develop the council’s housing company plans. The council also plans to work with partners to grow the visitor economy and help it recover from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as deliver plans to help local businesses through the government’s Reopening High Streets Safely and Welcome Back funds.

The plan also outlines ways the council will continue to monitor and improve the standard of service to its residents and businesses, such as through the effective management of its waste contract with Allerdale Waste Services, and the continued roll out of support and advice for businesses such as through the Better Business For All initiative.

The Delivery Plan also includes activities aimed at helping the borough’s communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic, help address any inequalities, and improve the overall health and wellbeing of residents. Some key activities include working with the council’s leisure partner, GLL, with new initiatives at the area’s leisure centres, work with partners at the Local Focus Hub, continue to deliver help and assistance to those facing financial hardship, and complete the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.

Speaking at the Executive meeting, Cllr Marion Fitzgerald, Deputy Leader of the council with responsibility for Policy, Governance and People Resources, said:

“In the short term, some Council activity is still focused on supporting our communities and businesses through the remaining restrictions and ensuring that residents have access to the services and support that they need from the Council. 

 “But, with the success of the national vaccination programmed and lockdown measures, it is to be hoped that the whole country is about to enter a much more optimistic phase of transition and recovery.  

“For the Council, this means developing a dynamic approach, helping the local economy to rebuild whilst at the same time looking towards and preparing the groundwork for future successes. This plan takes exactly that approach, setting out specific activity that will be taken over the next year which will deliver us to a point where we can achieve so much more.” 

Cllr Mike Johnson, Leader of the Council, added:

“This plan strikes the right balance between response and recovery linked to the pandemic and business as usual. We are determined to keep the quality of our services high for our local residents.

“The next 12 months will see us accelerate our activity on our key regeneration programmes in Workington and Maryport. It will also see us progress activity on our resilient communities strategy and our climate change action plan. We will also begin the delivery of our new economic strategy. The implementation of all of these plans will create economic programmes that will expedite our economic recovery.

“This plan demonstrates the full extent of our ambition across the full range of our services. We are committed to improving the lives and improving the future of our local residents. This document explains how we will go about achieving that mission over the next 12 months.”

The council is also agreeing strategies to deliver on the six key priorities. It agreed a Resilient Communities strategy recently, and an Economic Growth and Recovery Strategy at the Executive meeting of 12 May 2021. More information can be found on the council’s website www.allerdale.gov.uk.