Dudley’s Community Strategy launched in 2005, focussed on a high level vision of creating Stronger Communities and spans 15 years, to 2020. The Partnership committed to review the strategy every 3 years.
There were a number of additional elements to be included within the revised Community Strategy as follows:
A need to reflect the spatial context of Dudley, including the draft Core Strategy, the Local Development Framework, Local Area Action Plans, the various local consultations and plans being carried out within townships and local centres, and the draft Community Renewal Strategy and it’s supporting area-based plans.
A need to encompass the priorities and targets of the new Local Area Agreement (LAA). However, it will also be wider than the LAA, as it continues to reflect priorities for the communities of Dudley as well as focusing on where performance improvements are required.
Furthermore, the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) Joint Inspectorate proposals for Consultation, Summer 2008, state that progress against area priorities and ambitions set out in Sustainable Community Strategies will be assessed, starting with the LAA. The CAA, whilst taking account of national priorities, will focus on issues that are important locally and where evidence supports further work. If there is strong evidence that performance in important outcomes, not covered by the LAA is of concern, this will be included within the scope of the assessments.
A Summary of the Review Process
All theme partnerships were engaged in the review process, including Dosti and representatives from their voluntary, community and faith sector networks. Two main cross-theme partnership workshops took place and individual theme partnerships held their own meetings and workshops regarding the review.
Dosti held inequality working groups and an Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken. Other assessments included two spatial assessments and three sustainability appraisals. Focus group sessions were held with both adults and young people.
The formal consultation period was held over August and September 2009, with 26 responses received, the majority of which represented the views of a number of individuals within partnerships and organisations. All of the responses were valuable and have assisted the Community Strategy Review Group in making improvements to the draft Strategy. All respondents received feedback as to whether their response changed the draft Strategy and were given reasons, if not. The new priorities and objectives within the draft Strategy were formulated using agreed criteria.
The draft Strategy was approved by the Council's Cabinet on 9th December 2009 and by the Dudley Community Partnership Executive Board on 13th January 2010. The final version of the Strategy was approved by Full Council on 22nd February 2010, where it was adopted for the Borough.
A collection of review documents including events, methodology, consultation response summaries and so on, are available below.
