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Meeting of West Dorset Partnership - 24th September 2009



Report on meeting of

West Dorset Partnership

Mountfield, Bridport, 24 September 2009

 

This was a long, well-attended meeting but lacking issues having any strong sustainability and environment dimensions.  And, as has become increasingly the case, much time was given to points arising from reports from LAPs (Local Area Partnerships: Beaminster, Bridport, Lyme, Dorchester, Sherborne).  The following items have some S&E relevance:

 

1. WD Community Plan

The West Dorset Partnership began revising its Community Plan in April and aims to adopt the revised plan in July 2010.  It will run to 2026 but with the option to revise four years after adoption.  As reported previously, eight consultative workshops were held in June and July (and notes of these are available at www.dorsetforyou.com/communityplan/west ). From these workshops and other sources, a long list of draft issues and aims has been assembled (under such headings as Housing, Transport, Health, Environment, etc.).  This list needs condensation and prioritisation, a process that will start at the Annual Assembly and continue through a subsequent public consultation period.

 

2. WDP Annual Assembly

The partnership’s Annual Assembly will now take place on 16 October (a.m.) at the United Church, South Street, Dorchester.  Invitations have been sent out to partners, and booking is requested; but anyone not in receipt of an invitation and wishing to attend should, I suggest, contact Maria Clarke (Community Planning Officer, WDDC, on 1305 252305 or m.clarke@westdorset-dc.gov.uk ).  The launch of the WD Climate Change Strategy will follow in the afternoon.

 

3. Transport Plan

The meeting was asked to approve recommendation to WDDC of the £199,000 Transport funding allocation and approve the WDP Transport Action Plan (8 spreadsheet pages!).  Progress on projects within the Plan have been slower than hoped for, as it has not yet been possible to fill the post (within DCC Passenger Transport) to assist implementation.  The partnership’s Transport Sub Group continues to monitor the work.  (I am not sure whether this Action Plan has been put on the website, but a copy could no doubt be obtained from Maria Clarke).

 

4. Parish Plan Data Base

Work has started on the development of a South-West regional data-base of Parish Plans, and West Dorset is currently contributing as one of the pilot areas.  It is seen as a potential tool for searching and identifying common problems/issues/concerns at local level across the region.  (I am unclear, but I imagine it will eventually be publicly accessible.)

 

5. N17 Seeding Fund

Are S&E forum members aware of this fund, administered by DCA, which provides support (up to £1000) to voluntary and community sector organisations to augment their skills/capacity in making funding bids?

 

Next meeting will be on 10 December (and agenda items will include a Parish Planning update, allocation of WDP/DSP funding, and a WD Community Plan update).