Four year programme to deliver community commitments
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet is set to approve a refreshed high level four year programme to drive the delivery of five community commitments.
Underpinning the delivery of these community commitments is the ambition for Telford and Wrekin to be a family friendly borough and that the council will seek to protect, care and continue to invest in services.
The five commitments are:
• To continue to fight the closure of Telford’s 24/7 A&E and consultant-led women and children’s centre
• To continue to keep Council Tax among the lowest in the Midlands
• To continue to invest £80m per year in protecting the most vulnerable adults and children in our community
• To invest £50m in roads and footpaths across Telford and Wrekin and continue to invest in creating new jobs for residents
• To continue to fight any proposed merger with Shropshire Council or other authorities
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Shaun Davies said: “Through this programme we want to be clear to the community and partners what we are seeking to deliver with the resources available.
“The programme is also an important part of communicating the organisation’s ongoing development with the workforce.”
To drive delivery of the five commitments, the report to cabinet - which meets on July 11 – sets out eight priorities. These are:
• To protect and support the borough’s most vulnerable children and adults
• To secure the best start in life for children and young people
• To protect and create jobs as a Business Supporting, Business Winning Council
• To improve local people’s prospects through better education, skills and training
• To keep neighbourhoods safe, clean and well connected
• To support communities and those most in need and work to give residents access to suitable housing
• To improve health and wellbeing across Telford and Wrekin
• To protect and champion our environment, culture and heritage
Councillor Davies added: “In spite of facing significant financial challenges, we have already started to drive the delivery of the five community commitments.
“This has included a review of the council’s budget to deliver significant investment across the borough in schools, the transport network and borough towns.
“We have also secured a fact finding visit from the Independent Referral Panel who are considering our referral of Future Fit’s decision in relation to hospital services.
“We have also continued our work to protect the environment, reduce the use of plastic and started to prepare for the introduction of household food waste recycling scheme later this year.
“Work will continue to drive the delivery of these priorities through service planning and the development of a performance framework which will be reported to cabinet twice a year.”
