►►Taking actions forward ►►►
• Are you thinking of producing a Community-Led Plan?
• Are you in the process of producing a Community-Led Plan?
• Have you completed your Action Plan?
• What is your Number 1 Priority Action?
• Do you need help Making it happen?
We can help!
Representatives from parish and town councils and community groups attended the ‘Making the links ~ Making it happen’ launch event on Wednesday 15 October 2008 at the RCCE offices in Feering. The main focus of the event was looking at action planning and taking actions forward from Community-Led Plans (parish plans and village design statements) and how Essex County Council can help with this process.
Nick Shuttleworth (RCCE) opened the meeting and welcomed everyone to the event. Nick then introduced Ian Hatton (ECC) who briefly explained the background of Making the Links. Ian then went on to present the ‘Making it Happen’ project and outlined the criteria for delivering priority actions highlighted in community-led plans as follows:
• One priority action per plan will be considered.
• Other sources of funding should be explored if more appropriate (we can advise).
• A minimum 20% financial commitment from the parish council precept will be required.
Pilot Projects
We have piloted three projects in the Braintree District: to develop a car parking area in Finchingfield, to provide a new memorial plaque in Helions Bumpstead and to provide a laptop and projector for Hatfield Peverel.
Cllr Graham Tobbell (Chairman, Finchingfield Parish Council) explained that the car park was a much needed facility for Finchingfield and that it was nearing completion as he spoke. He explained how the Parish Council had been putting money aside for this project and how important it was for their community. The District and County Councils had both been very supportive and helpful in moving this project forward very quickly and Cllr Tobbell expressed his thanks to representatives present for their help in making this project happen.
Terri Freight (Clerk, Helions Bumpstead) told the meeting how they had been searching for funding towards a new memorial plaque for their recreation ground for some time and explained that although there was funding available for existing memorials there was nothing available for new memorials. This had since become a priority for their community. The Parish Council had some money available from their precept and a piece of welsh slate had been donated, so they were extremely pleased that through the ‘Making it Happen’ project they were now able to proceed.
The presentations were followed by group activities facilitated by Stella Meesters and Chris Hobbs (RCCE), which looked at categorising and implementing actions. These activities were relaxed sessions that encouraged discussion around all aspects of community-led planning.
Michelle Gardiner (RCCE) gave a presentation on the PlanIt Database, which is a comprehensive list of all the actions from completed community-led plans in Essex. Actions are listed by District and linked to Community Strategy Themes. The database shows the action type – whether it’s strategic, partnership or the communities own, it also lists the actions priority; low, medium or high.
The final part of the event concentrated on how information could be made available to help parishes and groups with the implementation of their actions. It was agreed that to produce one document covering everything from highways actions (one of the most common) to questions around planning issues would be difficult to keep up to date and unwieldy.
After some discussion it was generally agreed that the best way to present this information would be a signposting document which could be produced as a regular feature of the Making the Links bulletin. As this proved the most popular option, work will start on this in the very near future.
If you would like more information on the Making the links ~ Making it happen project, please contact Michelle Gardiner, Development Manager, Rural Community Council of Essex, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Feering CO5 9SE
Tel: 0844 4773938
E-mail: michelle.gardiner@essexrcc.org.uk
Downloads / Links
These links can be clicked on to open the target in a new window, or if you wish to save the document onto your pc then please right-click and select "Save target as ..."
 MAKE IT HAPPEN.PDF
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