Community Matters Corporate Plan 2020-2024 Delivering a prosperous New Forest and putting the community first CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 2 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Introduction Vision Our corporate plan plays an important role in making sure the To secure a vibrant and prosperous New Forest, guided by the people Council’s objectives are met for the people and communities we serve and working in partnership with others to enhance the in the New Forest district area. It sets out the overarching quality of lives for all by: commitments and vision for the Council over the next four • Understanding local needs and creating a balanced, healthy years, the priorities of each Portfolio, and the values that community who feel safe, supported and have access to services; underpin the delivery of the plan. • Protecting the special character of the New Forest and responding The plan focuses on the challenges we face, and all that we pro-actively to environmental challenges; and can do as an organisation to address them. It recognises • Working with others to maintain a vibrant local economy that brings the financial constraints in which we operate, builds on the opportunities to the area. strong financial position we have created and the services our community wants. We remain ambitious in setting priorities that matter to the people of the New Forest and we put our Values community first. Our values underpin the council’s vision and Our commitments include tackling the accelerating impact of priorities by shaping the way we work. climate change, new approaches to providing more homes Community for local people, responding to the specific needs of our • We understand that our residents and customers communities, maintaining the unique and special qualities of are at the centre of what we do. the environment, improving health and wellbeing and economic prosperity for the area both now and for the future. Teamwork • We respect the contribution of others, and value The plan builds on the foundations already laid out, maintaining those who work for the benefit of our community. our commitment to excellence in service delivery. Integrity • We act fairly, openly and with financial responsibility in all that we do. Services • We use our energy, skills, curiosity and resources to deliver the best sustainable outcomes. Ambition • We are passionate about leaving things better than we found them 3 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Leader and Corporate Affairs PORTFOLIO ‘Delivering a prosperous New Forest and putting our community first’ 4 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Portfolio holder Priorities introduction • Excellence in services to our residents and There is continued continuing to maintain front line services. commitment to • Being an employer of choice. delivering modernised • Working with regional partners to ensure the and innovative services, prosperity of the New Forest area. putting our community • Ensuring effective democratic engagement first. This will be done and representation. alongside an electoral review to ensure effective democratic representation for all our Key activities residents. • Deliver the Organisational Strategy and continued Partnership working remains a key priority to roll out of the smarter working initiative. achieve more together. This includes working • Respond to the outcomes of the staff survey with the Local Enterprise Partnerships to and deliver the HR Strategy to support recruitment co-ordinate and actively encourage businesses and retention. and appropriate infrastructure connectivity • Annual review of the economic investment in the opportunities; delivering a prosperous New Forest. New Forest. • Work with the Local Government Boundary Commission to deliver the Electoral Review in Recognising the importance of our people in support of electoral equality and effective local delivering high quality services we will strive to government for the New Forest area. be an employer of choice, providing flexible and modern workspaces and technology through the smarter working initiative. Cllr Barry Rickman Leader and Corporate Affairs 5 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Planning and Infrastructure PORTFOLIO ‘Encouraging development that meets local needs and enhances the special qualities of the environment’ 6 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Portfolio holder Priorities introduction • Delivering the vision of the local plan and Delivering the vision encouraging development that meets local of the local plan and needs and delivers positive, economic, social and environmental outcomes. ensuring a mix of homes • Working with partners, applicants and to meet the needs of developers to ensure a positive, timely and residents is core to this enabling attitude to development. portfolio. The approach • Using contributions to deliver projects that to development must mitigate the impact of development on the be proactive and natural environment. enabling, encouraging • Ensuring building control are engaged at the development that meets earliest stage to make future in development projects safe. local needs whilst • Working with Partnership for South delivering positive economic, social and Hampshire authorities on a Joint Strategy and environmental outcomes for the district. Statement of Common Ground to address Aligned to this is the delivery of a range of future growth and unmet housing need. green infrastructure projects, funded through developer contributions that enhance the special qualities of the environment. We will also work with partners across south Hampshire Key activities to develop a joint spacial strategy which will provide part of the robust evidence base for the • Enable the delivery of development set out in the next local plan. Greater emphasis will be placed Local Plan supported by appropriate infrastructure. Town National Park • Ensure that all development within the district is Martin on the early engagement with building control Whitsbury Hale Rockbourne Breamore resilient to climate change and creates healthy Woodgreen to add value to development proposals and Damerham Furzley environments for our residents to live in. Sandleheath Godshill Bramshaw Ashford Winsor ensure that buildings are safe. Modernisation of Fordingbridge Totton Brook Copythorne Fritham Frogham • Deliver additional open space, play equipment, Bartley Hyde Netley Marsh Eling car parking will ensure up to date facilities and North Gorley Woodlands Marchwood sports provision, cycling and walking opportunities Minstead Ashurst Ibsley Linwood contribute towards air quality and support the and habitat creation areas. Emery Down Dibden Ellingham Lyndhurst local economy. Bank Hythe Poulner • Increase the number of developments that use Ringwood Hardley NFDC Building Control Service. Fawley Holbury Burley Brockenhurst Beaulieu Blackfield • Progress work on the Joint Strategy for Langley East Boldre Calshot Cllr Edward Heron Thorney Hill Exbury South Hampshire. Sway Lepe Avon Boldre Planning and Infrastructure Tiptoe Norleywood Bransgore Bashley East End • Review car parking infrastructure and technology. Sopley Walhampton New Milton Hordle Hinton Lymington Everton Downton Barton on Sea 7 Milford-on-Sea Keyhaven © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100026220 Housing Services PORTFOLIO ‘Creating balanced communities and housing options that are affordable and sustainable’ CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Portfolio holder Priorities introduction • Meeting local housing needs and promoting Providing more homes sustainable growth. for local people • Increasing the supply of high quality continues to be a key affordable homes. • Improving the housing circumstances of issue and much of the those most in need. focus is on delivering • Enabling the best use of housing to meet the the Housing Strategy needs of local people, including support for a to ensure we meet the strong high quality private rented sector. wider housing needs of the district; creating balanced communities and housing options Key activities that are affordable and sustainable. • Deliver the key priorities identified within the Housing Strategy 2018. The Council is committed to providing more • Provide 600 new council homes by 2026 across council houses, eradicating the use of Bed social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership & Breakfast accommodation and reducing tenures, including within New Forest villages. homelessness. Building effective relationships • Reduce homelessness through the provision with private rented sector landlords and agents of multi-agency support to sustain homes and through a Landlord’s forum will help improve tenancies and through the increase in access to private sector rented homes. standards, maintain confidence in the sector • Protect the health and safety of tenants in private and improve access to our clients. This position rented properties. is reflected in the priorities. • Minimise the use of emergency Bed & Breakfast accommodation for homeless households. Cllr Jill Cleary • Design, deliver and enhance a multi-agency Housing Services approach and housing pathway to achieve long term accommodation solutions to end rough sleeping in the district. • Implement a new strategy to tackle empty properties and bring them back in to use. • Promote and implement greener housing initiatives when maintaining council stock and in the development of new council dwellings. 9 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Community Affairs PORTFOLIO ‘Keeping our communities safe and listening to their needs’ 10 CORPORATE PLAN 2020-2024 Portfolio holder Priorities introduction • Putting customers