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Strategic significance of the "Parish Plan"

Contributor: Enderby EYE - March 2006

In keeping with DEFRA's (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) rural strategy published in 2004, the Countryside Agency was established as a distinctive body to act as a rural advisor, expert advisor and rural advocate.

The Agency has an annual budget of around £1 million and hundreds of specialists and advisors in its headquarters and the regions.

To date the Agency has invested over £38 million in helping rural communities through the 'Vital Villages' programme. The programme places community decision making in the hands of the people it directly affects, be they residents or local commercial entities and assists with obtaining funding.

The Parish Plan is part of the Vital Villages Scheme and the concept behind it is to provide a vision of how communities would like their town or village to be.

Such plans would address social, economic and environmental issues identified by the community itself.

Parish Plan logo by Alice Copson

A Parish Plan addresses social, economic and environmental issues of concern to the community and is a holistic comprehensive plan, with such issues brought together in one document.

It must be prepared by the community working together (a bottom up approach) and based on information provided through research, survey and consultation.

It must be focused on action, and contain a clear statement for the future including - What? Where? Who? and When? The end result should be an action plan for the future - including ways of addressing the identified needs.

The plan might address housing needs, services, transport, local greenspace and countryside access, design and land use, amenities e.g. Village Hall, Playing Fields health and community care and employment.

The Parish plan will form a framework for bidding for funds from the Countryside Agency and other funding bodies in the future.

The Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland) is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It is part of a network of rural community councils located in each County. The Council is involved with a range of projects helping those who live and work in Leicestershire and Rutland, including helping facilitate the production of Parish Plans and liaison with service providers.

The proposed Parish Plan for Enderby

A Steering Group has been established to formulate a Parish Plan for Enderby.

The Steering Committee meets normally on the second Monday of each month and discusses ways of involving all residents of Enderby, including young people, in finding out what local needs and improvement in services will help to benefit the community at large. Local business interests are also invited to take part in the consultation.

The Parish Council has provided a £600 grant towards the cost of preparing the Parish Plan and a further £3,000 has been given by the Rural Community Council (Leicestershire & Rutland).

Local consultation will be carried out to identify a number of Action Points that will be looked at, acknowledged and supported by 19 wide-ranging key Leicestershire agencies, for instance the Leicestershire County Council, Learning and Skills Council, East Midlands Development Agency and the Primary Care Trust to name just a few.

This guarantees that resident's voices will be heard by those who can offer advice, guidance and funding to develop these projects and deliver what residents want for Enderby, whether that entails improved play areas, youth groups, speed restrictions, developing local businesses or retaining local services or green spaces.

It is essential to obtain a wide and varied input from a range of residents from Enderby, both young and old!

Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland)

Enderby Parish Council   |   Parish Council (Enderby EYE 'Local Government' section)

Posters mean prizes for Brockington students (Enderby EYE news item)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

The Countryside Agency  |  Vital Villages  |  Parish Plans

So here's the plan... Enderby Parish Plan is launched [EYE news item May 1st 2008]  

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