Darlington Partnership is reviewing the existing Community Strategy and developing the Sustainable Community Strategy for Darlington which will set out the ambitions and priorities for Darlington for the period 2008-2028.
The Sustainable Community Strategy represents one of the biggest opportunities for local people and businesses to help shape the way Darlington develops and thrives in the future.
Over the summer months an extensive consultation programme has been undertaken.
Six enquiry groups have met to address key quality of life issues discussing the following questions:
- How do we develop the economy and grow high quality jobs in Darlington?
- What is needed to ensure Darlington has the best education in the UK producing the workforce for a high value economy?
- What do we need to do to eradicate Anti-Social Behaviour and make Darlington Crime Free
- How can Darlington become the healthiest place in the UK in persuading people to adopt healthy lifestyles
- What would it take to make Darlington the greenest place in the UK
- How can we maximise life chances and choices throughout Darlington and ensure continuous improvement for priority people and places through a joined-up approach
Each group reported their key findings - pdf document to Darlington Partnership Board on the 13th September 2007.
Forty two consultation events have also contributed to the debate on Darlington’s future. These events have ranged from detailed focus groups to public meetings to market stall activities and road show events in different localities.
Over a thousand people have given suggestions and views on how to make Darlington better. All of these views together with the findings from the Enquiry groups have been collated into a prioritisation questionnaire. Initial consultation suggests that Darlington Partnerships should consider the following groupings of issues when drafting the new vision:
- Improve the local economy with more well-paid jobs
- Develop a wide range of leisure opportunities for all age groups
- Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
- Provide an attractive and clean environment
- Tackle climate change and promote energy conservation
- Provide safe, effective and affordable transport
- Improve the health and well-being of everyone
- Provide excellent education for all ages
- Build stronger, more cohesive communities, promoting equality and inclusion
- Deliver a vibrant town centre, preserving Darlington’s market town status
- Enhance the futures of our young people
- Celebrate and develop Darlington’s cultural life
- Maximise the life chances of local people, wherever they live