Forest Heath Council is Changing for Good - Aiming at Excellence with its new Corporate Plan and has a vision for a district that is Clean, Green, Safe and Prosperous. This vision for the next four years is the basis for the council's new Corporate Plan 2008 – 2012, launched on Tuesday at their Mildenhall HQ.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Geoffrey Jaggard, said: "Our Corporate Plan features the priorities of the people of Forest Heath and reflects their hopes for the future. This Plan outlines our direction for the next four years and we will produce an annual plan to show how we are working towards, and achieving, our goals. I would like to thank everyone who took part in our extensive consultation during 2007 for their valuable contributions.
“The new vision for the district has been built on what local people have said they like about the area and what they want to see for the future. We have completely revised out priorities to take into account the views of local people – and as a result there are some significant changes from the previous plan.”
Residents, town and parish councils have worked with the council to shape the seven ambitious priorities outlined in the plan, approved late last year.
The council's major priorities for the next four years are to be:

Affordable and accessible housing - the council will use the planning system to ensure that builders provide more affordable housing in development across the district.

Community engagement and Communication - this means continuing, and increasing, the dialogue the council has with residents and representative groups.

Community Safety - CCTV and appropriate alcohol exclusion zones are two of the tools the council, working with partners, wants to use to reduce the fear of crime.

Economic regeneration - residents asked for town centre regeneration to be a priority together with more job opportunities, education and skills development.

Outreach projects for young people - The council wants to support initiatives, particularly in the villages, to help keep young people safe and active.

Street scene and environment - the cleanliness of town centres and minimising the district's impact on global warning are featured under this priority.

Transport issues - the dualling of the A11 was a key priority of many people the council talked to. The council will lobby for this improvement and work to improve other aspects of transport provision in Forest Heath.

Member Champions, Councillors with special subject interests, have been appointed to each of the new priorities to work alongside committees in developing the organisation and improving services. On Tuesday they met with officers to develop the new annual delivery plan for 2008/9, which will ensure that work on the priorities happens.