Community Priorities Review & Community Implementation Plan 2023-2028

A Community Priorities Review and Community Implementation Plan have been completed to update and replace the 2017-2020 Directory of Aims & Aspirations (DAA). A copy of the original DAA can be found  here.

A review of the council’s progress in helping the community to realise the previous host of aims and aspirations was presented to councillors at a Policy Committee meeting on the 18 September 2023. A summary of the achievements can be  found here.

The 2023-2028 Community Priorities Review:

A review of the 2017-2020 Directory of Aims & Aspirations was carried out in 2023 to reflect the evolving needs of the Council, especially post pandemic.

The review involved consultation with a wide range of partners and organisations, as well as local businesses and representatives. It also took into account the aspirations of a number of partner plans and strategies including the Dorchester Town Council Corporate Plan (2019-2024) and Vision for Dorchester.

The aims of the review were to:

  • Reflect the views of the Dorchester community and prioritise the needs and aspirations of its residents
  • Identify social, cultural, economic and environmental characteristics and strengths of our local community
  • Identify local problems and explores opportunities to collaboratively overcome them
  • Suggest how the community would like to develop in the future and creates a vision
  • Deliver an implantation plan to achieve this vision and identifies who needs to be involved

Following the review, a comprehensive Community Implementation Plan 2023-2028 was developed.

Key aims of the Community Implementation Plan

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Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Leisure

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Provides good opportunities for recreation and leisure
  2. Communicates well about events, activities and opportunities to get involved
  3. Capitalises on our tourism and heritage offer
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2

Transport and Access

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Promotes active travel
  2. Makes sustainable travel easier, safer and more accessible.
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3

Democracy and Local Voice

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Seeks to strengthen local democracy
  2. Works to increase community cohesiveness & resilience
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4

Good Health, Wellbeing and Safety

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Makes more use of green open spaces and nature for health and wellbeing
  2. Seeks to improve links between health and social care & community providers
  3. Wants to improve health for different communities
  4. Fosters a community that is safe and welcoming for all
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Housing

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Provides for local housing needs
  2. Supports people most at risk of homelessness
  3. Ensures that housing developments are fit for the future
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Economy, Training, Education & Volunteering

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Supports the local economy and collaborates with local businesses to facilitate economic growth and job creation
  2. Provides opportunities for life-long learning & training
  3. Gives everyone increased opportunities to get involved in civic life
  4. Supports people on lower incomes
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Climate & Environment

We want to live in a town that:

  1. Actively engages to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices
  2. Helps to protect the natural environment
  3. Helps to mitigate or prepare for effects of climate change
Dorchester Town Council Community Plans

Community Priorities Review

Community Implementation Plan

How can you use the Community Priorities Review and Community Implementation Plan 2023-2028?

The review and ensuing action plan are intended to provide organisations and individuals with a focus for joint action, helping partners to identify collaborative projects, prevent duplication and to use resources to meet shared priorities.

Community plans can help spotlight local priorities and inspire people to work cooperatively towards them.

With reduced resources, working with partners to achieve outcomes can maximise local achievements and reduce inefficiency and replication.

Working together and speaking with one voice can give local communities a stronger voice to meet district, regional and national bodies to influence policy and strategy.

Community plans can also be used as evidence of your local communities’ priorities which can help to leverage in economic investment and funding and be used to lobby for more local resources.

For more information, or to get involved, please contact Emma Scott, Community Development Officer on 01305 266861 or email her at e.scott@dorchester-tc.gov.uk.