Melton’s community strategy

DECEMBER 2003

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Information about the

3. Purpose of the Community Strategy

4. Melton’s Community’s priorities

5. The strategy

• Community Development • Leisure and Culture • Jobs and Prosperity • Education and Training • Mobility and Transport • Housing • Environment • Health and Care • Safety and Protection

6. Suggested actions

7. What happens next?

8. Membership of the Melton Community Partnership.

9. Abbreviations

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1. INTRODUCTION

This is Melton’s first community strategy.

It is the first time that we have tried to create an agreed view about what the borough of Melton should be aiming for and the best way to get there.

It brings together the needs and hopes of local people and the organisations that work in the borough into a shared vision.

The vision explains where we want to be.

We want to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the borough of Melton to achieve a sustainable, prosperous and vibrant community…. a place where people want to live, work and visit.

The strategy explains how we can all help to achieve this vision.

Partnerships, organisations and the community have achieved a great deal in the borough of Melton. Most local people think that Melton is a good place to live, but there are still things that can be improved and this strategy can help to co-ordinate actions and carry them through the current decision-making processes.

This strategy is all about:

• making things better in the borough of Melton; • taking account of local views; • improving the quality of life; and • co-ordinating partnerships.

Please read on.

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2. INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOROUGH OF MELTON

MAP HERE

The borough of Melton is in the north-east of the county of and centrally located within the East Region. is about 28 kilometres (17 to 18 miles) from the large cities of and and the towns of and .

Profile • The area of the borough is 48,138 hectares. • 47,866 people live in the borough of Melton (2001 census). • Melton Mowbray is a historic market town which provides most of the borough with day-to-day services. • There are train stations at Melton Mowbray and Bottesford. Direct train routes run through Melton Mowbray from Leicester, Stansted Airport, Liverpool, Birmingham and Cambridge. • There are regular bus services to Nottingham and Leicester. • The borough is linked with the national road network so is within reasonable distance of the A1, M1 and Airport.

The borough of Melton has rolling countryside and is famously known for its Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cheese. There are a number of major manufacturing and engineering firms, and has a successful small business sector.

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3. PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY STRATEGY

What is the reason for having a community strategy?

• A community strategy is a document that sets out the needs and hopes of a community. It should represent the overall views of the community.

• Developing a strategy allows organisations that work in the community and the community itself to work together towards a common goal to improve quality of life.

Who put the strategy together and how?

• We, the Melton Community Partnership (MCP) have developed the Melton Community Strategy. (The MCP is a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).)

• We were set up in May 2002 and are made up of representatives from organisations that work in the borough of Melton (including public, private, voluntary and community groups.) We have come together in a partnership arrangement to work closely with each other to make the best use of the resources each organisation has. (The members are shown on page 33)

• We have developed the strategy from: 1. MCP partners contributing to a daylong session to identify the important issues in the borough. 2. A first draft of the community strategy was produced in May 2003 and sent to over 150 organisations/individuals for comment. 3. The results of the consultation were used to develop the second draft of the community strategy, which was published in August 2003. This draft was subject to wider community consultation, this included; • Draft sent to over 350 individuals/organisations for comment • Public Drop-in sessions held in 5 places in the borough • Article and questionnaire in the local newspaper • Questionnaire available on www.meltononline.co.uk • Three ‘themed’ focus groups • One ‘joining-up’ focus group with key local organisations. 4. The comments received have influenced the development of this final version of the Melton community strategy and its associated action plan. A statement setting out the consultation comments received and the resolution reached by the MCP on each issue is available as a separate document.

• The Melton Community Strategy is supported by a separate Action Plan. The Action Plan builds on the objectives set out in this strategy and is the key ‘delivery mechanism’ of the community strategy. The Action Plan will be reviewed and monitored annually.

• The Countryside Agency’s Market Towns Initiative has been developed to help revitalise market towns, which meet the needs of the local people. The initiative is carried out by completing a healthcheck with help from local people to appraise

5 the strengths, weaknesses, future demands and opportunities of market towns from which an action plan is developed to help draw funding into the area. With support from the Countryside Agency and the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the action plan will help to revitalise Melton Mowbray and the rural hinterland.

The process by which the Market Towns Initiative and the Community Strategy are carried out is comparable and therefore the Melton Community Strategy now embraces the Countryside Agency’s Market Towns Initiative and the two are being run as a joint programme.

What will this strategy and the partnership do that has not already been done before?

We were set up to do the following things.

• Produce a community strategy which explains what local people need and how they would like the borough of Melton to be in the future.

• Encourage local people to get involved by developing ways in which people in the borough can be given the opportunity to express their needs and wishes for their areas, comment on the draft strategy, and be involved in putting it into practice.

• Co-ordinate partnerships by considering all existing partnerships to see how they can work together more effectively.

We are a strategic partnership, which means that we examine the broadest viewpoint and try to find solutions that will improve things at all levels. We are also looking at what local people need and want for their area. It is only by recording and respecting these views that our work and that of the community strategy can be successful.

Short-term realism for long-term aims

• We cannot achieve everything at once so the process to achieve the vision will be ongoing.

• Internal structures of many organisations are complicated and therefore working across organisational boundaries needs a great deal of negotiation and a lot of effort, but people work together better when there is an agreed sense of direction.

• We can concentrate on working towards an agreed vision and action plan and thereby improve the quality of life of people who live in Melton.

What will happen as a result of this strategy being written?

• Now we have agreed the vision and what we are going to do to achieve it, we can start to work to put the proposed actions into practice.

• The needs and hopes of people who live in Melton will change over time so we will review and update the community strategy and action plan accordingly.

6 • A wide variety of agencies and organisations are responsible for putting the community strategy into practice, with as much help as possible from the people who live in the borough of Melton.

• We will use the Community Strategy to start to carry out the actions that have been identified.

Where will the money and resources come from in order to carry out projects?

• The wide representation on the Melton Community Partnership allows us to have a strong voice that will, for the first time, begin to represent the views of the Melton community. The community strategy will provide the vision and agreed actions for the future, which have been approved by the wider community and us. This will increase the chances of funding applications being successful for future projects.

• It is expected that pooling some of the financial resources of MCP partners can pay for projects that benefit many sections of the community and areas of the borough.

• As the Melton Community Partnership is a Local Strategic Partnership it is able to influence and access Sub-Regional Strategic Partnerships funding.

• Through the Market Towns Initiative, a Project Manager will be employed to co- ordinate the implementation of the action plan. The Countryside Agency, the East Midlands Development Agency, Melton Borough Council, Melton College and are funding and supporting the Project Managers post for three years.

How will we know if things are getting better?

The Audit Commission has developed a set of local Quality of Life Indicators (QoL) indicators, they measure a wide range of issues that affect local areas. The indicators that make up the set have been chosen because they provide a wide variety of information which can reflect quality of life, rather than the ease of their data collection. The indicators include economic, social and environmental issues.

This strategy will use these indicators, plus others that are widely used (such as Best-Value indicators which are used by public services to monitor their own progress), to help monitor our progress in achieving the overall vision.

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4. MELTON’S COMMUNITY’S PRIORITIES

MELTON COMMUNITY’S VISION

We want to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the borough of Melton to achieve a sustainable, prosperous and vibrant community….a place where people want to live, work and visit.

Top priorities:

1. To regenerate Melton Mowbray Town Centre so that it is a town the borough can be proud of. This means: • Developing a masterplan for the development of the town • Raising the standard of developments in the town • Attracting investment in the town

2. To develop better access to better services across the borough. This means: • Using information and communication technology to provide easier access services • Improving public transport particularly in rural areas • Looking at innovative ways of delivering services in rural areas

3. To create a step change in our approach to supporting and developing young people in the borough. This means • Investing in young people to help them achieve their potential • Improving facilities for young people • A concerted effort to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour

We identified the need to deal with issues that affect both the rural area of the borough and Melton Mowbray in a co-ordinated way and get the community involved. This strategy has undergone a rural proofing exercise using the Countryside Agency’s rural proofing checklist (A screening tool to consider whether policy is likely to have different impacts in rural areas).

We also recognise that although the borough of Melton is fairly well-off, there are a number of areas that show up on the index of multiple deprivation. There are also more hidden areas of deprivation, in some rural parts of the borough related mainly to access to services and facilities. We will try to take account of the community’s different needs.

Melton Community Partnership principles:

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Sustainable development means ‘a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come’ (DEFRA 2001)2. This strategy aims to take account of and balance the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable development within a strategy, where all three elements are considered before action is taken.

8 This strategy has had a Sustainability Appraisal carried out on it to ensure the concept of sustainability is upheld.

EQUALITY We follow the principle of ‘equal opportunities for all’ in our role as a co-ordinating group serving the community of Melton. This commitment builds on the responsibility of our partners under relevant legislation to promote equal opportunities. We will make sure that equality is an important part of all the work we do.

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5. THE STRATEGY

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Develop Melton as a place where people are able and willing to participate in community activities (including decisions about their communities) and committed to contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of community well-being and quality of life. What you told us • 94% are satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live. • 12.1% consider their neighbourhood is getting better, 14.8% getting worse and 65.4% not changed. (Quality of Life indicators, 634 people in the Borough of Melton over the phone, March 2002)

• On the whole, 80% of people are satisfied with the town or village in which they live in. (Quality of Life and Environmental Issues in Leicestershire - A survey of Local Attitudes 1995)

• There needs to be more information on how young people can get involved in making decisions and about local youth work in the area they live. There should be a specific councillor on a parish who deals with young people and their issues. (Leicestershire Rural Partnership, Consultation on key issues, Young Persons Citizens’ Jury 2002.)

Background information Communities develop and change over time. It is essential that for communities to have a good quality of life, they must be sustainable. It is essential that communities have an opportunity to have their say in what happens to their area. It is then up to the individual to take up the opportunities and get involved with their local community.

Many statutory and voluntary organisations are involved in consulting the local community for a variety of reasons. Consultation may be carried out to: • Find out if users are satisfied with a service; • To gain views on specific issues; or • Find out the general hopes of the community. We can then use these results to identify gaps in services and improve them. Organisations usually consult the community through user-satisfaction surveys, citizens’ panels, public meetings, parish plans and village appraisals.

There can often be misunderstandings about how statutory organisations work with the local community (people who live and work in the borough of Melton), which can lead to mistrust and discontent. This is mainly due to a lack of information and understanding about why decisions are being made. To reduce this happening, effective consultation, improved ways of sharing information and a more co-ordinated method of carrying out and sharing results of consultation is essential.

Objectives 1. Encourage more people to take part in community activities.

10 2. Improve facilities for young people in the borough 3. Improve access to services regardless of need and circumstance

11 LEISURE AND CULTURE

Broaden opportunities in leisure and cultural activities.

What you told us • 54% of respondents rated activities for teenagers in Leicestershire as fairly poor or very poor. (LLSP Consultation on key issues, Citizens’ Panel Nov/Dec 2002, 1316 postal questionnaires)

• Raise the profile of the arts in the borough as a whole. • See more opportunities and events in the town. (Arts Strategy May 2002)

Background information Leisure and culture covers many recreational activities such as sports, arts and heritage, play, parks and open spaces, countryside recreation, and leisure clubs and societies.

Melton Mowbray has many cultural venues and facilities for a fairly small market town, including a theatre, museum, cinema, library and college. In the rural area of the borough, most villages have a meeting hall. There are many attractions in the borough, including , St Mary’s Church, Melton Carnegie Museum, Ye Olde Shoppe and the street and cattle markets.

Melton has a rich architectural and archaeological heritage. There are over 60 villages that contain a variety of historic buildings and ancient monuments. There are 700 listed buildings that range from country houses of national importance such as Belvoir Castle to small outbuildings and walls. There are around 32 scheduled ancient monuments.

Sports facilities in the borough include a leisure pool, leisure centre, community sports centre, four golf courses, six bowling greens and three tennis courts. There is Frisby Water Park and Jet Ski at Six Hills. A lot of the leisure and cultural facilities, including village halls, are in the rural communities on playing fields, in playgrounds and in schools. In Melton Mowbray there is a country park which covers 53 hectares and provides a variety of activities.

Objectives 1. Raise the image and profile of culture in the borough of Melton to residents. 2. Get more people involved in leisure and cultural activities on a long-term basis

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JOBS AND PROSPERITY

Create a stronger local economy by broadening business development and enterprise. What you told us • Melton has a good reputation for Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and , and the area has good tourist potential. Melton needs better promotion. • There is a good transport structure, with road and rail access to national networks. • There are a number of major manufacturing and engineering firms in Melton, a thriving business sector, and nationally important facilities including PERA and a rail test track. • The economy is being influenced by major changes in farming and the wider rural economy that will affect the countryside’s future. • Local firms, particularly engineering and high-tech businesses, are experiencing a major shortage of skilled staff, which is leading to recruitment problems. • Melton Mowbray town centre is threatened with decline in the face of competition from surrounding towns and cities. • Businesses in the rural area suffer from poor access to services including business support, postal services, broadband access and three-phased electricity. • People living in the rural area who are looking for work are hampered by poor public transport, few opportunities for training and lack of childcare facilities. • Some rural businesses are concerned about planning constraints. • Businesses would like to see better networking. (Welland Business Champion for Melton survey of 50 local businesses, 2002)

Background information The population in the borough has risen by 6.1% over the past 10 years. 82.4% of the working-age population is economically active (Local Labour Force Survey May 2002, ONS), with 0.9% unemployed (ONS September 2003). Melton’s largest businesses include Masterfoods (a division of Mars UK), Jeld-Wen (UK) Ltd and PERA. The area has recently attracted some significant new businesses including Alpha Gary, Alstom, Melton Foods and Kettleby Foods that form part of the Samworth Brothers group.

Emda has prepared an Economic Development Strategy that aims to make the East Midlands one of the top 20 regions in Europe by 2010. The strategy is being carried out through sub-regional strategic partnerships which have a lot of financial resources available to them. Melton is covered by two of these partnerships - the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership and the Welland Partnership. Both have prepared their own Economic Development Strategies.

Objectives Taking account of the regional and sub-regional Economic Development Strategies, our main economic objectives are as follows. Enterprise and innovation 1. Raise awareness of improved business support services, particularly in rural areas. 2. Support existing businesses and encourage business opportunities that help to raise wage rates. 3. Foster diversification of the rural economy. 4. Realise and promote the tourism potential of Melton primarily through food, equine and heritage.

13 Land and buildings 1. Regenerate Melton Mowbray’s town centre by enhancing its vitality and viability. 2. Provide land and buildings to meet current and future employment needs.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Develop more job opportunities by increasing employability and skills through learning.

What you told us • Good schools and colleges were ranked as one of the top five important issues in making somewhere a good place to live, and people rated them as very or fairly good. (LLSP Leicestershire Citizens’ Panel, 1316 postal questionnaires, Nov/Dec 2002- Findings relate to Leicestershire)

• There is a general lack of information available to young people and therefore young people are unaware of many of the services that are available to them.

• Schools have a role to play in teaching young people about the differences between people. (LRP Young Persons’ Citizens’ Jury 2002)

Background information Leicestershire County Council is responsible for the education of children of statutory age in the borough of Melton. However there are a number of ways in which other organisations in the borough can contribute to encouraging learning in many forms.

Leicestershire’s Local Education Authority’s (LEA) vision is: ‘…all people of Leicestershire should have lifelong access to high-quality education and training for vocation, social and personal needs to improve the quality of life and contribute to the economic and cultural development of this county and beyond’. We can use this vision locally to influence objectives and actions.

There are 25 primary schools in the borough and four secondary schools. There are two special schools currently being replaced by a new area special school in 2003/4. King Edward VII School has a sixth form and there is one further-education college, Brooksby Melton College.

Adult and community learning is provided at Brooksby Melton College, Bottesford Belvoir Community Centre and at a number of the borough’s schools.

In the borough, 27.5% of the population have no qualifications compared to 31.6% in the East Midlands. 7% of the population’s highest achievement is level three. (two or more ‘A’ level, four or more ‘AS’ levels, NVQ3 Advanced or GNVQ) compared to 7.8% in the East Midlands region. 18% have achieved level 4 or 5 as their highest qualification. (first degree, NVQ 4 or 5, NND, HNC, qualified teacher, doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife and health visitor), compared to 16.63% at the regional level.

Objectives 1. Improve access to learning 2. Improve links between education providers and other stakeholders.

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ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPORT

Productively meet local transport needs.

What you told us There is a lack of public transport with routes and schedules to fit in with the journeys which people need or would like to make. There is a lack of information about public transport services. Buses are unreliable, indirect and unsafe, they have a lack of disabled access and fares are too high. Cyclists and walkers feel threatened by traffic and are concerned about personal security as a result of narrow pavements and lack of footpaths. There is a lot of traffic and Heavy Goods Vehicles in Melton Mowbray. Some problems include speeding vehicles on rural roads. There are high levels of congestion in Melton Mowbray’s town centre. Car parks are poorly sign-posted. (Melton Borough Transport Focus Groups, November 2000)

• Public transport was described as awkward, unreliable, complicated, not interconnected and expensive for young people. (LRP: Young Persons’ Citizens’ Jury 2002)

• The level of traffic congestion was seen as fairly poor or very poor, and was seen as the second highest priority in terms of issues that need improving. (LLSP Consultation on key issues, Citizens Panel Nov/Dec 2002, 1316 postal questionnaires).

Background information Quality of life can often be influenced by access to transport and, as a result so too are jobs, shopping, healthcare, leisure facilities and other services. Over the last few decades, people have been relying on the car as their transport. This growth cannot be maintained in the long term.

About half of the borough’s population lives in Melton Mowbray where the main employment, shops and services are located. Bus and train services are more accessible in the town than in the rural areas of the borough, and, as a result, people who live in rural areas tend to rely more on their cars to access services.

Objectives 1. Give better access by public transport to basic services 2. Reduce the need to travel by car 3. Reduce traffic congestion in Melton Mowbray 4. Improve safety and security for all travellers

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HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

Make sure everyone has access to decent houses

What you told us • The level of new housing development in Melton should be closely related to local need. • Most new housing development should be directed to land in and adjoining Melton Mowbray, preferably using previously developed land. (Objections and representations made with respect to the Leicestershire, Leicester and Structure Plan and 1999 Housing Needs Survey, Fordham Research Ltd, 2000) • In terms of how people rated their local area, ‘ a range of housing’ was rated very good or fairly good by 75% of people. (LLSP Consultation on key issues, Citizens’ Panel) • House prices were identified as a barrier to achieving independence. (LRP Young Persons’ Citizens’ Jury 2002)

Background information The quality and appearance of the built environment contributes significantly to the quality of life in places where people live and work. The unique and attractive character of the buildings in the borough has largely resulted from the using of local building materials and traditional building styles.

There are 20,434 homes in the borough (Council Tax valuation list –March 2002) and the average price of a house is £133,987 (HM Land Registry- April to June 2002). Between 1991 and 2002 there were 2,155 dwellings built (Residential Land Availability Study, MBC, 2002) and 32.2% of new dwellings were built on previously developed land in the last year. (Residential Land Availability Study, MBC, 2002).

Facts: • Around 1000 households are living in unsuitable accommodation. • 232 properties were vacant for more than six months at April 2001. • There are just over 900 households in housing need. • Most of those in housing need are not registered with the Council. • Around 8% of households contain someone with a special need. • Special needs households are characterised by low income and high levels of housing need. • The Somerby area shows considerably higher levels of housing need than other areas of Melton.

Objectives 1. Provide good - affordable housing in areas of identified local need. 2. Reduce vacant properties 3. Reduce waiting lists 4. Reduce homelessness

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ENVIRONMENT

Protect and improve the environment; tackle Melton’s impacts locally and globally. What you told us • 39% of people were very concerned about the environment and 43% were fairly concerned. • 77% of people have used a recycling facility, 54% have chosen a product for environmental reason - and 42% have used low-energy light bulbs in the last year or two. • 52% were concerned with traffic and congestion, 48% with litter, 43% with local air pollution, 38% with clearing the rain forests, 27% with the quality of drinking water, 25% with global warming and 20% with noise. (Quality of Life and Environmental Issues in Leicestershire - A survey of Local Attitudes 1995)

• In terms of how people rated their local areas, the only option rated as ‘very good’ by the most people was ‘nearness to the countryside’ - but ‘parks and open space’ were rated ‘very’ or ‘fairly good’ by 79% of people who responded. (LLSP Consultation on key issues, Citizens’ Panel Nov/Dec 2002, 1316 postal questionnaires).

Background information The borough of Melton is essentially a rural area. It is characterised by a gently rolling agricultural landscape. The quality of agricultural land is generally high (Grade 2 or 3a).

The rivers Wreake and Eye and the Grantham canal take a route through the borough. The town of Melton Mowbray has a history of flooding, and the last major flood was in 1998. A flood scheme has been designed to protect Melton against floods and also to protect a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Leicestershire is one of the poorest counties in the UK in terms of bio-diversity cover, having some 2% of land area designated to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), compared to 6% nationally. Melton is even below this figure with 16 SSSIs in the Borough which cover 244 hectares (0.5%).

There are 44 conservation areas in the borough of Melton - the largest in the town of Melton Mowbray. Melton has a rich architectural and archaeological heritage, in the rural areas there are over 60 small villages that contain a variety of historic buildings and ancient monuments. There are around 700 listed buildings, including Belvoir Castle.

Objectives 1. Reduce the amount of waste produced and resources used in the borough. 2. Preserve tranquillity and reduce soft (e.g. light and Noise) pollution. 3. Protect and enhance the built and natural environment and protect the rural character of the borough. 4. Prepare for, limit, and adapt to climate change. 5. Promote civic pride

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HEALTH AND CARE

Promote healthy living and progress towards better health.

What you told us • There is a need for easily accessible information about health-related issues, such as where to go and what services are provided. (LRP Young Persons’ Citizens’ Jury 2002)

• The second highest rated issue that makes somewhere a good place to live is accessible health services. (LLSP Consultation on Key issues, Citizens’ panel, 1316 postal questionnaires, Nov/Dec 2002)

Background information St Mary’s and the Melton District War Memorial hospital serve Melton Mowbray and its surrounding area. A new hospital is planned behind St Mary’s Hospital.

There is one central doctor’s practice in Melton Mowbray at Latham House, and there are surgeries in the villages of , Bottesford, , Somerby, and Wymondham.

The life expectancy at birth in Melton borough for men is 76.6 and for women 80.6. (Strategic Health Authority Report ‘Towards Better health’ 2003).

For the period 2002/03, social services received 1,868 referrals for services from adults living in Melton. There were 507 childcare referrals from the Melton area. About 316 people were supported in long-term residential or nursing care, and 72 people were supported for short stays in residential or nursing care. Over 480 people received home-care services in the Melton area.

Objectives

1. Raise awareness of how people can take responsibility for their own health. 2. Improve the services available to people in the borough especially the most vulnerable.

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SAFETY AND PROTECTION

Reduce crime rates, and promote safer and caring communities.

What you told us • It has been reported that the ‘very important’ priorities for the next three years should be to reduce the amount of violent crime, burglary from the home, robbery, drug related crime, youth crime, criminal damage and theft of vehicles. • People are worried about violent crime, drug related crime, robbery, youth crime, criminal damage and antisocial behaviour (in order of importance). • People think they will suffer from: antisocial behaviour, youth crime, criminal damage, theft from vehicle, burglary from the home, or burglary from a garage or shed (in order of importance) (Postal survey carried out in 29% of Leicestershire County)- Issues are reflected in the Melton Crime and Disorder Reduction strategy.

• The issue of ‘low levels of crime’ was rated as most important in making somewhere a good place to live (seen as almost twice as important as any other issue). It was highlighted that the issue should urgently be ‘improved’ now or in the next year. (LLSP Citizens’ panel, 1316 postal questionnaires Nov/Dec 2002)

Background information Relatively speaking, Melton is a safe place to live (compared with national audit information) and is an area in which crime is generally falling. Crime statistics that are used to measure progress in the borough must be used cautiously as crime rates are generally low and any slight change can make a considerable difference to the percentages involved. A fairly high percentage of crime is unreported and so is not recorded in the official statistics.

Melton has a Local Area Policing Unit based at King Street in Melton Mowbray and there is another police station at Bottesford.

Objectives

1. Reduce the fear of crime 2. Reduce the incidence of crime specifically against the elderly and vulnerable 3. Reduce anti-social behaviour and problematic drug use.

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7 . WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

This is Melton’s first community strategy so we will need to review and update it as the needs and wishes of the community change and develop, and we become more established.

We have developed the strategy to show how we believe the quality of life in the borough of Melton can be improved. Although many sections of the community are represented on the partnership, we cannot represent the needs of the whole of the community of Melton. It is essential that the wider community have the opportunity to get involved in the review of this document and the action plan that is associated with it to ensure that the needs of the whole borough can be translated into the strategy.

The community strategy will be reviewed in 2008, however the action plan will be reviewed on a yearly basis.

Links between the Melton Community Strategy and other strategies

We recognise that to work towards the vision, it is essential that the community strategy considers the links with other strategies and work being carried out in the surrounding area. We will make sure that wherever possible we create links between the priorities and actions for Melton and further afield.

• The East Midlands Integrated Regional Strategy is the emda/Regional Assembly’s vision for the region. We have used this strategy to undertake a sustainability appraisal on the Melton Community Strategy. • The Welland Sub Regional Strategic Partnership, Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) Sub Regional Strategic Partnerships (SSP) and their economic strategies The MCP will contribute to the implementation of the economic strategies. • Leicestershire Local Strategic Partnership (LLSP) and the Leicestershire Community Strategy. We will work in partnership with the LLSP to ensure that where possible the Melton and Leicestershire Community strategies can be implemented in a joined up manner. • Leicestershire Rural Partnership (LRP) We will work with the LRP to join up working where possible. • Leicestershire Community Information Initiative works to provide a library of information to support community strategies. • Parish plans, village appraisals and village design statements are developed by the local community to identify local issues that need to be considered. We will take account of this information.

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5. MEMBERSHIP OF THE MELTON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Democratic representatives • Members of all represented political parties at Melton Borough Council • Leicestershire County Council • Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local and Parish Councils –Melton Branch

Environment • Melton Mowbray and District Civic Society • National Farmers’ Union • Melton and Waterways Society • Environment Agency • Town Estate • Campaign to Protect Rural

Economy • Business Link • Melton Chamber of Trade • Masterfoods • Melton Information Communication Technology Forum • MeltonTourism Forum

Social • Brooksby Melton College • King Edward VII School • Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland) • Churches Together in Melton • Melton, Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trust • Leicestershire Constabulary • Melton Council for Voluntary Service

There are many organisations, agencies and partnerships that work within the borough of Melton that are not specifically represented on the partnership. However, as we are an ‘umbrella’ partnership, there will be strong links with many organisations so work will be carried out in a more joined-up way.

21 9. ABBREVIATIONS

CVS Council for Voluntary Service EA Environment Agency EMDA East Midlands Development Agency LCC Leicestershire County Council LLSP Leicestershire Local Strategic Partnership LRAPC Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Parish Councils LRP Leicestershire Rural Partnership LSEP Leicester Shire Economic Partnership LSP Local Strategic Partnership MBC Melton Borough Council MCP Melton Community Partnership Melton ‘Borough of Melton’ MOWS Melton and Oakham Waterways Society NFU National Farmers’ Union PCT Primary Care Trust RCC Rural Community Council SSP SubRegional Strategic Partnership SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest

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