Asset Management Strategy 2007 - 2011
3.0 Strategic Direction – The
Corporate Plan 2007 - 11
The Council is very clear about what it wants to achieve.
Its objectives reflect the Government Guidance needs and
requirements of local people. The Council has a Corporate Plan for
07-11, aimed at continuing to make Thanet a good place to be, which
also provides opportunities meeting the expectations of
residents.
3.1 Key Priorities and Targets
Thanet's Economy
Dynamic management of assets, aligned to an efficient Planning
Service, will help generate jobs. The Council will work with
developers and inward investors.
Thanet's beautiful beaches and coastal location offer a unique
setting for both businesses, visitors and residents, and the
Council intends to maximise its coastal and marine potential to
expand the visitor base. The council aims to create Thanet to be a
destination of choice for weekenders in the South East and the day
trip destination of choice for people in East Kent. To achieve
this, the Council is aiming to:
- Develop key industrial and employment sites
- Support the creative and cultural visitor economy
- Implement the vision for Westwood
- Diversify the Port of Ramsgate
- Develop Margate town centre
- Support the development of Kent International Airport.
Safer Neighbourhoods
The Council intends to make Thanet a safe place to live, and
reduce people's fear of crime. This is something that the
Council cannot deliver on it's own, and will work closely with the
Police and other partners to reduce crime and associated behaviour
in Thanet. To achieve this the Council is aiming to:-
- Make Thanet's streets safer at night
- Reduce both incidence and fear of crime
- Develop diversionary activities to prevent and reduce offending
/ re-offending rates
Healthy Communities
We intend to improve the healthy and well being of people who
live in Thanet. Promoting a feeling of belonging for all
residents. Tackling genuine feelings of inequality, and
giving residents every opportunity to be involved in decision
taking.
- Increase opportunities for exercise and play
- Promote healthy lifestyles
- Support the establishment of community space in Broadstairs and
Ramsgate
Beautiful Thanet
Thanet has some of the most beautiful beaches in the England and
therefore it is vitally important that the Council improves and
maintain high levels of cleanliness in Thanet. An improved standard
of the services which have a direct impact on the appearance of the
streets, beaches and open spaces, is important to the residents of
Thanet and it is important for us to work towards high levels of
public satisfaction.
- Strengthen enforcement activities – especially in problem
areas
- Improve the environment within busy areas and on the approaches
to Thanet
- Increase domestic recycling levels to 40% by 2011
- Provide the whole district with access to separated waste
collection
- Improve the level of cleanliness across the district
- Provide new swimming pool facilities.
Quality Housing
The Council wants to ensure that irrespective of income or
tenure, people in Thanet have access to good quality and secure
accommodation that they can afford. To achieve this, the Council is
aiming to:
- Ensure that the planning system is used effectively to deliver
new affordable housing, with a target of up to 30% of homes on
eligible sites being available to rent or buy by households on low
incomes of a mix that meets identified housing need
- Work with RSLs and other partners to provide more specialist
accommodation for the frail elderly and other vulnerable groups
(RSLs Registered Social Landlords)
- Continue to improve housing conditions and the housing market
in Cliftonville and Margate central
- Promote initiatives and investment to tackle fuel poverty for
people on low incomes , living in poor quality housing
- Reduce the number of vulnerable people living in non decent
accommodation (PSA7) through effective hmo licensing and
enforcement activity
- Reduce the incidence of homelessness and repeat homelessness
and reduce the number of households living in temporary
accommodation
- Provide the opportunity to build quality homes.
A Modern Council
The Council intends to make the best use of its resources to
provide residents with high quality, consistent and efficient
services. It aims to do this by continuing to evolve our internal
processes, systems and management to make the best use of people,
technology, buildings and assets and that all these elements of the
Council enhance service delivery, in both the short and medium
term.
- Open the integrated Thanet 'Gateway' in central
Margate
- Developing and publishing Service Standards across major
service areas
- Implement a specific standard that delivers effective and fast
response to resident queries and complaints about key Council
services.
- Implement a process to give high profile scrutiny of
complaints.
3.2 Are These the Right Aims? Is This What People Want?
Thanet Council has worked hard to ensure the needs of the
community are met, and to ensure that what it is striving to
achieve is what people in the local area are looking for. The
Council has undertaken extensive consultation through the MORI
survey in 2005; this identified the key concerns for residents in
Thanet as:
- Cleaner Streets
- Reducing Crime
- Activities for teenagers
From this consultation a Resident's Panel was set up, a
representative sample of Thanets population allowing 1000 members
of the community to be consulted on various different issues and
decisions the council has made.
Further extensive consultation has continued with the
development of the Corporate Plan for 07-11 to ensure the Council
achieves what the public want. Helping us shape priorities for next
four years.
3.3 Priorities, Policies and links with Our Partners
The diagram below identifies the relationship this Asset
Management Strategy has with the Council priorities and how this
links in with other strategies and, most important of all,
implementation via Service Plans. The more explicit we can
make these links, the easier it is for our partners from the
private, public and voluntary sector to work with us.
Next: Strategic Context
Back to: Strategic Background