I propose that Southwell should develop a Strategic Plan to look at how to improve public services for its residents

In the first place the town should analyse its current position as a ‘sustainable community’ and then undertake a gap analysis on this analysis. At our recent training, a straight forward way was suggested how to do this, and this would make sense to use this.

I believe that the town should develop a 15 year Strategy Plan for Southwell in consultation with all of our residents and organsiations inthe town. We should then establish a ‘Virtual Bank’ of all public sector bodies to identify and specify public sector spending in Southwell. We can do this, provided such organisations as the District and County Councils, DWP, Police and Fire Authorities etc co-operate, using a methodology being developed by the DCLG called  ‘place-based budgeting’.

We can use this information to look at the value for money that Southwell gets for its expenditure, and whether the community could deliver better services in a different way.

Alonside this we should develop a Neighbourhood Plan based on the Town Council’s Planning Committee’s representations on the Housing Allocation Assessment consultation Dec 2011, with added elements on the design of houses and the support of our Conservation Areas.

So, I will make some proposals at the Town Council meeting

The Town Council in conjunction with the Town Forum will analyse the town’s progress towards being a sustainable community as defined by the Bristol Accord 2005 by June 2012.

The Planning Committee will develop a Neighbourhood Plan to take this to N&SDC for referendum by July 2012.

The Town Council’s F&P Committee will develop a Strategy Plan based on the Town Council and Forum’s analysis of the State of the Town for consultation by December 2012.

To undertake a feasibility check following this consultation prior to generating an Action Plan to deliver this Strategy in the March 2013 Full Council

The Town Council’s Devolution and Delegation Working Party will work with the Town’s partners to establish a ‘Virtual Bank’ of all public sector body spending in Southwell