West Cheshire Together
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An assessment of life in West Cheshire has been undertaken through a Comprehensive Area Assessment. The assessment sets out how local public services are working together to tackle the major issues facing the people of the borough.
The area’s new Local Strategic Partnership - West Cheshire Together - brings together the key public, private and voluntary sector organisations and has agreed five local themes, which form the basis of the assessment. The themes are:
• Safer and stronger communities • Children and young people • Health and wellbeing • Business, enterprise and culture • Environmental sustainability
Established on 1 April 2009, West Cheshire Together is reported as having a good understanding of the local area. This knowledge is highlighted in Area Profiles, which set out the main issues in each area and through the Interim Sustainable Community Strategy that is acknowledged as having robust arrangements in place to further develop it and Area Action Plans.
Safer and Stronger Communities - the report says most parts of West Cheshire are safe. Jon Betts of the Safer Stronger Communities Thematic Partnership, said: “The overview of crime in the borough is positive. We still have some important areas where we can improve, such as reducing the problem of arson and binge drinking, but these are issues that we know about and have robust plans in place.”
Children and Young People – educational outcomes are mainly good says the report. Steve Robinson, Chair of Children’s Trust said: “This report is very encouraging. I am delighted that it is so positive about this area – particularly in relation to healthy lifestyles being well supported and children and young people being encouraged to make a positive contribution to their communities.
“For the future we have made a commitment to raise the performance in our secondary schools and this will be a key target for us.”
Health and Wellbeing – the overall health of most people in West Cheshire is good, says the report, and partners understand where health inequalities exist. Julie Webster, Chair of West Cheshire Together for Health & Wellbeing Thematic Partnership, said: “Plans are being developed to address these inequalities. Work is well underway to tackle the key lifestyle issues which drive the local inequality gap. In October, West Cheshire Together adopted the West Cheshire Tobacco Strategy which promotes the importance of smoke free environments and provides support for smokers who wish to quit.”
The report suggests a good start has been made in developing social care services for older people and vulnerable adults. The Council, since 1 April 2009, has been working hard to transform the way social care services are delivered.
Ian Whitehead, Vice-Chair of West Cheshire Together for Health & Wellbeing, said: “The Council has introduced Personal Care Budgets to enable people to choose their care in line with their own needs. This positive and empowering approach is part of the transformation of this service by the Council and its partners.”
Business, Enterprise and Culture – West Cheshire has a stable economy with low numbers of people out of work and a wide range of local business. The recession is having an impact, according to the report, but the work of the partnership in supporting businesses is regarded as good.
Sara Mogel, Chair of the Business Enterprise & Culture Partnership said: “There is much exciting work taking place in this area. We have launched Bouncing Back - an initiative to support local businesses and residents through the recession; sitting within this initiative is a range of schemes including the Redundancy Action Support Team, West Cheshire Employability Partnerships, Train to Gain plus much more.
“We are also working to create new opportunities to promote the area as a place to visit.”
Environmental Sustainability – good progress is reported here. Jane Staley, Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Thematic Partnership, said: “Recycling is high in West Cheshire and we have been successful in reducing C02 emissions through policies such as cavity wall installations, providing incentives for renewable energy in homes and planning policies to encourage sustainability.
“Our focus as a partnership is now on addressing the issues of local transport and to put in place the outcomes of the Highway Maintenance review that is nearing its completion.”
The Comprehensive Area Assessment results can be viewed at http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk/
For further information please contact Pam Bradley, Head of Communications at Cheshire West and Chester Council on 01244 976996.