A new strategy that will take Powys County Council services forward over the next three years has been formally launched at the Royal Welsh Show.
The strategy, which was announced last month, places regeneration at the heart of what the council does. It outlines a three year plan with regeneration as one of the council’s highest priorities to deliver improvements in the physical, social, environmental aspects of the county as well as economic and social attributes.
Produced by specialists Powell Dobson, the strategy focuses on nine key themes which reflect the strategic needs of the county;
* Environment and Place
* Education and Skills
* The Economy
* Health and Well-being in the community
* Quality of Service Provision
* Renewable energy alongside Research and Development
* The Significance of Local Culture and Creative Industries
* Tourism
* The needs of young people
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Wynne Jones, speaking from the Royal Welsh Show, said: “This is a major strategy that quite rightly puts regeneration at the heart of everything that Powys County Council does and seeks to deliver regeneration by working in partnership with both the private and public sectors.
“It must be remembered that this is a 20 year strategy, which will hopefully, nurture and promote the county’s strengths and address weaknesses. The strategy must be more than a paper-exercise it must help lay the foundations for a strong more prosperous Powys.
"The Strategy details nine key themes and a number of objectives, and it will be impossible to take everything forward at once. Therefore priorities are being set from the outset, and these will all be included in the Implementation Plan that will be drawn up by January 2012."
These priorities will include working with Welsh Government in order to improve and develop effective high speed broadband coverage in Powys and to assist and where possible, to provide business with help and support it will need to fully utilise ICT in their business. We shall also seek to improve the ICT infrastructure within the Council, so that staff can work more efficiently and flexibly.
It recommends a review of the way it disposes of assets and where suitable, to consider their use to stimulate regeneration, use its procurement powers to foster a robust local supply chain. The council should ensure that the ‘Schools Modernisation Programme’ exploits all potential economic and social spin-off benefits.
It also recommends that the county council enables micro-business and social enterprises to succeed, particularly those involved in renewable energy generation; agriculture; tourism and manufacturing.
A copy of the full report and action plan are available on the council’s website: www.powys.gov.uk