ACTION plans with real street level impact is the aim of new boards being set up across Cheshire West to deliver the services people say they want.
Fourteen community forums, where residents can put forward their concerns and aspirations to councillors and other agencies such as the police, are already underway.
Now, as part of its Making It HappenŠ commitment, the new council is creating Area Partnership Boards to translate strategic themes into area action plans and bring about the improvements and changes residents call for through their local forum.
The bigger issues that the forums and other local representative bodies such as parish and town councils and residents’ and voluntary groups cannot deal with alone will be passed up to one of five area boards.
The boards will pool resources and budgets to respond comprehensively to the specific needs of each area, reduce inequalities and give an accurate picture of issues such as crime and safety, health and access to services.
The five boards will cover Ellesmere Port, Chester, Rural West, Winsford and Rural East, Northwich and Rural North.
They will comprise of two CWaC councillors, a council director, a parish or town councillor, and representatives from agencies such as the police, primary care trust, transport and Job Centre.
The approach aims to put residents at the heart of local decision-making.
Cllr Lynn Riley said: “People are fed-up with a ‘one size fits all approach’ and want a greater say over the look and feel of their neighbourhood. This new model enables them to raise issues and to bring their ideas and aspirations to the table.”
