District Matters

Planning for the next four years

September 2023

Here at the District Council we are in the process of drawing up our strategy for the next four years. We are developing a new Council Plan that will govern the actions we take between now and 2027. This Plan will take into account how we work with our partners and how we can deliver benefits for our residents. It will have a public consultation stage so that residents can assist us with their comments.

This Plan will address the cost-of-living crisis, health and wellbeing, economic development, climate change and biodiversity as well as housing that meets the needs of the district and its residents.

Ahead of next winter, we are looking at the help available to meet the cost-of-living crisis. A working group is looking at ways to improve our working relationship with housing associations. We want to ensure a sustainable future for the Shopmobility scheme, and we will be launching a new fund to help communities in the District tackle climate change in their own areas.

Local government can play a vital role in delivering services which the government in Whitehall needs to recognise. There is a big agenda to tackle at a national level: addressing health and wellbeing, preventing further damage to our environment and meeting climate change goals. Local government is an essential part in delivering that agenda.

In an era of government constraints on local government, we have to be able to think more creatively about our relationships, partnerships and the delivery of public services.

Modern economies depend on us understanding the power we have in our own areas. Councillors are the voice of our communities, raising concerns in a professional way and working with Council staff to address issues and make the changes that are needed.

Working with others locally helps to deliver the potential of local government. It is all about teamwork; Whitehall directives cannot do it all. It is time for an honest conversation about our funding and the ways in which we work together.

Here in Stratford District, it is essential the new Liberal Democrat administration establishes good working relationships with its partners. We must maintain and develop our partnerships with organisations such as the County Council. There have been a number of tensions recently with talk of local government reorganisation in the West Midlands, but these are now being addressed.

Partnership becomes increasingly important for services that the District Council cannot deliver itself, such as public transport, social care and health care. Working together we can achieve better outcomes for residents.

Universities, businesses and voluntary organisations can offer a wealth of innovation, imagination and expertise to help us to solve some of the problems facing our communities. We must be open to new ideas. And of course we must maintain our good working relationships with the experienced and knowledgeable staff at the District Council.

Being the Council Leader is an exciting challenge that I'm relishing. I have done many things in my professional life, but this is proving to be the most fulfilling. One of the goals I've set for myself is to visit the different parts of the district – the 100 or so different parishes, spread over nearly 400 square miles – and speak to residents, parish councils, voluntary organisations and local businesses. Their input will be vital if we are to achieve our aspirations for Stratford residents.

This month sees the start of our first budget process, balancing what we want to achieve with the money available. We already know the limitations on government resourcing, so there will be considerable financial constraints on what we can achieve. We are determined, however, to meet the challenges and make Stratford District a better place in which to live and work.