Lead Partner: Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
Description
This action research project commenced in September 2006 and ended in June 2008 with the production of a final report which is attached below.
The project aims were to:
- Support market town communities to get invloved in the community planning process
- Help them fit their own community-led plans (parish andtown plans) into the wider picture (strategic plans by County and District Councils and Local Strategic Partnerhsips) and get them impletmented
- Develop ways of involving business in community planning and town partnerships
- Overcome limited 'but in' so far by Local Strategic Partnerships into coming out of town partnerships.
The project was managed by the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) through a Carnegie project steering group. The Project Partners were Oxfordshire Town Centre Network (OTCN) and Planning Aid South with ORCC as the lead partner. Two consultants were engaged to assist with delivery of the community-led planning element of the project.
Despite the joint challenges of the loss of a key member of staff and changes in the strategic planning framework for Oxfordshire, the project remained on track and delivered on all of its key objectives.
As a direct result of this project, project consultants have been successful in assisting market town communities fit their parish and town plans and Healthchecks into strategic plans by County and District Councils and Local Strategic Partnerships. Community-led initiatives that came about as a result of this project are now making successful applications for funding.
OTCN has successfully developed ways to involve business in community planning and town partnerships, including forging strong links between schools and local businesses. It should be noted that none of the benefits that have come as a direct result of this project would have been possible without the provision of funding support.
Market town communities have been successfully encouraged to get involved in the community planning process through consultancy support and the work of Planning Aid South. There has also been progress assisting Local Strategic Partnerships provide support for plans coming out of town partnerships. To an extent, the relationship between community plans and land use plans has also been strengthened.
In addition to the outcomes of this project, learning points and issues have been recorded as part of this report with the aim of enabling follow-on projects to benefit from experience gained.
Contact Details
Ann Tweney Finance & Administration Manager Oxfordshire Rural Community Council Jericho Farm Worton Near Cassington Oxfordshire OX29 4SZ Tel: 01865-883488Fax: 01865-883191 Email: ann.tweney@oxonrcc.org.ukWebsite: http://www.oxonrcc.org.uk
| Attachment | Size |
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| Oxfordshire Towns and Community Planning - Final Report.pdf | 968.63 KB |