The Rights of Way Improvement Plan for RCT - Rhondda Cynon Taf

2. PolicyPolicy Context and theImportance of PolicyThe Rights of Way Improvement Planshould consider the strategic policycontext. This will ensure that the Plandoes not conflict with other policiesand reflects the access needs identifiedby others. Where other policies andplans are being developed in parallelwith Out & About, joint working canbe promoted. The Issues Paper set outa list of relevant policy documents andthis was developed in the Assessment.This section does not repeat the detailprovided in the Assessment, butidentifies the key areas of policyinteraction with Rights of Way andaccess concerns. This provides thebasis for the vision, aim, objectivesand actions in the Rights of WayImprovement Plan.Community Plan ‘A Better Life’The Community Plan provides theoverarching strategic policy for theCouncil and others operating in theCounty Borough. The Plan is beingimplemented through five thematicpartnerships, each with representationfrom the statutory, voluntary andbusiness sectors. In addition, there aretwelve area regeneration partnershipsinvolving the same sectors at a morelocal level. All of these partnershipshave undertaken extensiveconsultation with the general publicand specific interest groups. Detail ofthe five themes is given in theAssessment. Each of the themes andtheir associated action plans hasrelevance for Out & About.Regeneration includes economicconsiderations such as tourismdevelopment, an attractiveenvironment and a positive image,access to employment and climatechange adaptation, as well as theLocal Development Plan and theRegional Transport Plan. Socialinclusion and equal access to facilitiesare also relevant.Health improvement has strong linkswith Out & About, includingpromoting physical activity, the socialand mental health benefits ofrecreation out of doors and access forall. The Active Living Partnership ischarged with progressing part of thisagenda. Other aspects of relevanceinclude transport issues and healthyenvironments.Bro Dysg’s focus is on individualsvaluing and supporting learning. Thereare curriculum requirements foroutdoor learning, and the voluntaryand statutory providers of lifelonglearning are prominent users of thecountryside.Community Safety has concernsregarding environment, transport, roadsafety and youth safety as well ascrime, disorder and anti-socialbehaviour. Illegal off road vehicle useis a specific public issue focused on offroad motorcycle scrambling. As aresult the Partnership has employed anOff Road Motorcycle Co-ordinator.Living Space considers transport,accessibility, parks, countryside, waste,built environment, environmentalquality and strategic issues such asenergy, resource use and climatechange. All of these are relevant toOut & About.6Out & About: The Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Rhondda Cynon Taf