Our vision is:
'That North Somerset is a place of safe, healthy, thriving communities. By working together we aim to improve the quality of life and well-being of all, creating and inclusive, sustainable District, where local people have a real say in the decisions that affect them and future generations'.
The North Somerset Partnership (NSP) began life as the North Somerset Local Strategic Partnership Shadow Board in 2002. In 2003 the Board structure was formalised into the NSP.
The first Community Strategy was launched at a major event in 2004. At this event delegates from agencies and organisations across North Somerset considered the structure and delivery mechanisms required to implement the Strategy.
We believe that to tackle the most important issues in the community eg transport, education, crime, jobs and the environment, organisations need to work in a coordinated way - by working together we can achieve more than by working alone.
Because a local strategic partnership is locally based, the community are well-placed to influence its decision making. This provides the community with the opportunity to have their say on what issues should be tackled in their area.
Our key purpose is to improve quality of life for people in North Somerset.
We do this by:
- Preparing and implementing the Community Strategy for North Somerset
- Bringing together existing plans and partnerships to meet local needs and priorities
- Involving the community and tackling the issues that affect them
- Working with partners in the wider locality to further the interests of North Somerset
The North Somerset Community Strategy (pdf, 966k) has been prepared by the North Somerset Partnership (NSP) and was launched in 2004. It sets out our long term vision for North Somerset. Jan 08 - Final Draft Sustainable Community Strategy available.
It identifies what we believe to be the important issues for people living in, working in and visiting North Somerset, based on:
- Asking people in North Somerset what matters most to them
- Statistics and facts about the area
- Talking to agencies and groups that work in communities on a day to day basis
It sets out what we as a partnership aim to do to improve local services and the quality of life for local people. and identifies the partnerships, plans and strategies that contribute to delivering our aims and objectives.
The Community Strategy is a statement of our commitment to working together to promote the present and future economic, environmental, health and social well being of the area.
To reach the agreed vision a wide range of objectives have been identified. Six of these have been recognised as particularly important and are the priority objectives. These are:
- Reduce crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour and increase community safety.
- Develop a wide range of arts, entertainment, recreational and cultural opportunities.
- Improve the economic sustainability of North Somerset, providing more local employment opportunities that match local people's skills, particularly in Weston.
- Improve the health and well being of the population of North Somerset and address health inequalities by providing a range of services from prevention to improved access to high quality clinical services.
- Ensure that North Somerset has an appropritate range of private and social housing provision to meet the needs fo our diverse area.
- Increase transport choice and promote accessibility to everyday facilities for all, maximising and developing our transport network and reducing congestion.
The North Somerset Partnership (NSP) has several elements.
These are:
- The Partnership Board made up of 20 representatives from the public, business, voluntary and community sectors. There are also a number of advisers to the Board from organisations such as Government Office South West and Somerset Racial Equality Council. The Board is the decision making body and its key task is to oversee the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the Community Strategy.
- Delivery partnerships work on a thematic basis to implement the objectives of the Community Strategy through their action plans. Delivery partnerships are linked to the Board through a Board Member as Champion. Some delivery partnerships are already well established, others are still developing.
- The Stakeholder Forum where stakeholders come together for an Annual Event to hear about progress against actions within the Community Strategy and to influence future priorities for the work of the Partnership.
- Communities and local people also have the opportunity to influence the work of the Partnership by identifying local issues for example through the Parish Plan process.
The structure, roles and responsibilities of the various components of the Partnership are set out in the Terms of Reference.
North Somerset Partnership has adopted a number of key values. We are implementing these through the development of our activities and services.
Our values are:
Accessibility - we consider and respond to the needs of our diverse communities across North Somerset to ensure services and projects are available to all who want to access them.
Equality - we are committed to equal citizenship and will endeavour to deliver programmes that respond to the diverse needs of local people. We will act to reduce unfair differences in outcomes or the provision of services, where they occur.
Sustainability - when agreeing strategies and actions, we take into account economic, social and environmental needs and issues of present and future communities to reach sustainable outcomes.
Engagement - we actively involve local people and communities in the development and implementation of the Community Strategy.
Our vision is:
'That North Somerset is a place of safe, healthy, thriving communities. By working together we aim to improve the quality of life and well-being of all, creating and inclusive, sustainable District, where local people have a real say in the decisions that affect them and future generations'.
http://www.northsomersetpartnership.co.uk