TOWN councillors have set out their aims for supporting Uttoxeter over the next five years in its draft copy of the strategic plan.
Uttoxeter Town Council was set to discuss the Strategic Plan for 2012 to 2014 last night at an extraordinary meeting called by the towns mayor Martin Blencowe.
The aim of the draft plan is to ensure that the overarching strategy of the current council is outlined, although this could be subject to change when the current councillors term in office is up in 2015 or there are changes in legislation.
The mission statement of the authority is to promote a caring, cohesive and inclusive community, to provide a forum for local democracy and to promote the town and its amenities to the wider audience.
The councils aims are to:
œ Provide services economically, efficiently and effectively;
œ Provide public venues for business and pleasure;
œ Work in a transparent open manner;
œ Encourage local views and opinions and act on them as appropriate;
œ Work with traders and other bodies to facilitate improvements to Uttoxeters environment and amenities;
œ Work to make the environment and services safe, ethical, sustainable and support the concepts of fair-trade for imported and locally producers;
œ Appraise all the activities in Uttoxeter to ensure the council is best placed to meet the needs of local people and economy.
The draft plan also sets out how the councillors intend to form strong bonds with other organisations in the town such as the Traders Forum, Town Team, which was responsible for the Portas Pilot bid, the police and voluntary organisations.
Under the Localism Act 2011, the council wishes to obtain the Power of Competence which will give the council the opportunity to bid to provide some of the towns services which are currently provided by other councils.
The plans reads: It is the belief of Uttoxeter Town Council that Uttoxeter residents prefer excellent services to be provided and administered locally and they will remain the default position in considering any future application.
Also discussed in the draft are the towns markets which were taken over by the council in January this year.
The plan said: The markets have outperformed expectations, generating revenue for Uttoxeter and it will be the intention of the council to continue this trend.
Also included in the draft plan are the neighbourhood plan, marketing strategy, communication strategy and town hall community usage.
It adds staff and councillors should be fit for purpose as they are held to account by the electorate each election and are bound by the codes on conduct.
