Housing News Summer 2009 - South Derbyshire District Council

Local priorities consultation - summary of results
During 2008 and early 2009, South Derbyshire District Council consulted key stakeholders
on priorities for the District. We did this with Derbyshire County Council (DCC) and South
Derbyshire Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) using a range of consultation methods.
A local priorities questionnaire was sent out to South Derbyshire's Citizens' Panel and workshops held at
District Council Area Forums and with groups such as 'Chatterbox' the South Derbyshire Youth Forum and
with representatives of the South Derbyshire Tenants' Forum. The purpose of the consultation was to find out
the priorities for the District and to understand why these are important and what action should be taken by
organisations, communities or individuals to achieve them. The information has been used to inform the Council's
Corporate Plan, which outlines the actions we intend to undertake in 2009-2010 and has informed the development
of South Derbyshire's Sustainable Community Strategy and the wider place-shaping agenda for the District.
You said the top 5 priorities for the District are:
1 Reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime
2 Activities for children and young people 3 Clean streets
4 Highways, roads and transport 5 Decent and affordable housing
What you told us (this includes some of the comments we received):
"If the streets
around us are clean and tidy it
creates a feeling of well-being".
"There are lots
of new houses being built but
nothing really affordable for first
time buyers like myself".
"Living in a small village
there are no activities i.e. a youth club
for young people, which means that they
tend to gather on streets and
in bus shelters"
"Fear of crime and antisocial
behaviour is relatively high
in South Derbyshire and
partners need to work together
to reduce the issue"
"We need to feel
safe to go about our lives, doing whatever we
need to do and be able to relax and feel safe
in our homes too."
"Transport (public services)
is very lacking, we need a direct
link to Nottingham, Loughborough
and Leicester".
What we are going to do
Some key priorities and the changes local people should expect to see as a result of the Council's Corporate Plan.
We will:
Improve the condition of public and private sector homes.
Facilitate new affordable housing for people unable to afford market prices.
Successfully implement and maximise the benefit of the free swimming initiative for under 18 year olds.
Provide rapid clear up through the work of the clean team, including the use of covert cameras to reduce
fly tipping.
Launch a high profile campaign for a cleaner South Derbyshire.
Deliver a project in partnership to provide dance opportunities for all ages.
Complete ten local Area Safer Neighbourhood Projects using Safer Neighbourhood funding.
Improve partnership working with local secondary schools and identify new initiatives that will help reduce
anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.
Lobby for better transport to help residents access services across the District.
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For a copy of the local priorities consultation leaflet, which presents a summary of the key results of
the consultation process, please visit www.south-derbys.gov.uk For any comments on this article
phone Sasha Ryan on 01283 595726 or e-mail yourviews@south-derbys.gov.uk