Councillors have voted to approve an updated council plan that sets out a vision and priorities to support the district’s Covid recovery and renewal.
The latest version of South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC’s) council plan was adopted at a full council meeting last night (February 23).
The plan sets out the authority’s vision and priorities for the next five years and is reviewed each year.
In areas such as housing and communities, the council say they are already working to make South Lakeland a better place to live.
They are, they say, also making the district a better place to work.
Through its work on the environment and health, the council say they are making the district a better place to explore.
The plan has been updated to respond to some significant changes in South Lakeland.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the district’s economy and communities and its aftermath will be felt for many years.
The council has declared a climate emergency, which sets carbon reduction targets and developed an action plan to meet them.
Poverty emergency has also been declared by the council. In addition, Government proposals for reorganising councils may change the shape of local government in the Morecambe Bay area.
SLDC has a long standing vision of ‘South Lakeland as the best place to live work and explore’.
Through the updated plan four key priorities have been identified to achieve that vision:
- Working across boundaries – delivering sustainable regional growth across Morecambe Bay
- Delivering a balanced community – a South Lakeland for all ages
- A fairer South Lakeland– a South Lakeland for everyone
- Addressing the climate emergency – a carbon neutral South Lakeland
One big change in the 2021 plan is closer working with Barrow Borough and Lancaster City councils to build on the work on the Bay unitary proposal.
This means cooperating on economic development, infrastructure, housing and employment growth as well as skills and knowledge.
All of this is vital as communities emerge from the impact of the pandemic. The three councils are also looking to collaborate on inequality and deprivation, population health and carbon reduction.
The latest plan also gives greater emphasis on sustainability and climate change, and builds in targets for carbon reduction.
Giles Archibald, leader of South Lakeland District Council, said: “Our council plan has never been more important.
“As we look towards recovery and renewal following the COVID-19 pandemic it sets out our ambitious vision and how we will work with our communities and partners to deliver excellent services and to ensure our district continues to be the best place to live, work and explore.
“The council plan reinforces our commitments on key priorities to reduce inequalities, deliver sustainable economic growth and respond to the very clear and dramatic threat posed by climate change and biodiversity loss.
“We have set ourselves targets in all these areas and we will continue to work with others to meet these challenges.’’
Jonathan Brook, Deputy Leader of South Lakeland District Council, said: “Our updated council plan clearly articulates our ambitions for an excellent quality of life in a district that is more beautiful, quieter and cleaner, with more comfortable, warmer and safer homes, more jobs in a thriving sustainable economy at the centre of a Morecambe Bay Economic Region and where everyone has access to the same opportunities, life chances and potential to lead safe, healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.’’
