A cleaner, greener environment, with first-class services and prosperity for all - that is the vision for the future of the Malvern Hills district.
The plan for the next five to 10 years sets out priorities for reducing waste, building more affordable homes, supporting health care and healthy lifestyles.
The district council wants to develop a programme of themed markets in Great Malvern town centre, including regular farmers', antiques, craft and continental markets.
Local transport, the cleanliness of public places and the enhancement of Great Malvern town centre are given priority status.
Successes in the last year have included reducing homelessness by almost half, reducing waste, improving street cleaning and recycling, attracting new traders to Malvern and getting more young people involved in physical activity.
The Splash pool and gym has been refurbished, a major programme of improving public toilets has begun and concessionary fares have been extended to the community transport system.
On the downside, sickness absence has gone up by 50 per cent and there has been little progress on putting race equality and customer feedback schemes into effect.
Almost no progress has been made on returning unfit or vacant private houses to use, the report says.
Nevertheless, residents are more satisfied with council services than they were four years ago.
People are pleased with recycling arrangements, the standard of parks and open spaces, the council benefits service and the quality of theatre and arts programmes.
But they are not so happy with road and pavement repairs, dental facilities, public transport and the time that it takes to process planning applications. They want to see more activities for teens, less traffic congestion and more decent, affordable housing.
Although Malvern Hills District Council is not responsible for all these issues, the plan for council approval next Tuesday includes working in partnership with others to make a difference.
Besides tackling the priorities, it is planned to introduce customer service centres at Upton-upon-Severn and Tenbury Wells, make effective use of properties owned by the council and improve planning and benefits services.
The following panels show the areas in which the district is concentrating its efforts, what has been achieved so far, and what it hopes to achieve in the future:
STREET CLEANLINESS
Achievements:
l Refurbishment of public toilets, Hanley Road, Upton-upon-Severn.
l Appointment of street scene manager and wardens.
l Cleaned up litter hot spots.
l Fixed penalty notices for littering.
AIMS:
l Develop 'rapid response' service with town and parish councils.
l Improve bulky waste collection to reduce fly-tipping.
l Complete improvement programme for public toilets.
l Promote reduction of waste and reduction of dog fouling.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
Achievements:
l Introduction of concessionary fares on community transport.
l Provision of 12 motor scooters to help people access work and training.
l Pilot work shuttle bus scheme introduced.
l Hills Hopper service extended to Three Counties Showground.
Aims:
l Help develop a county-wide concessionary fares scheme.
l Encourage council employees to car-share, walk, cycle or use public transport.
l Work with partners to improve transport services.
TOWN CENTRE ENHANCEMENT
Achievements
(Great Malvern):
l New retailers moved in.
l Farmers' market in Abbey Road has waiting list.
l Successful launch of Malvern Pride week.
l Formation of Town Centre Partnership.
l Improved landscaping in Edith Walk.
l Enhanced paving and the lighting in Church Walk.
Aims:
l Improve pedestrian signs, landscaping and planting.
l Develop a programme of themed markets, including farmers' markets and the Christmas market.
l Develop two walking festivals centred in Malvern.
l Establish Tenbury in Bloom, plus new walking festival and apple festival.
l Provide traders' welcome pack and shop front grants scheme for Tenbury.
l Develop Upton's town trail with new signs and information panels.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Achievements:
l Increased opportunities for access to affordable housing.
l Reduced council tax discount to owners of second homes and empty properties.
l Homeless cut from 353 to 303.
l Granted permission for six rural schemes providing 52 affordable homes.
l Made 40 grants to assist people into home ownership through Elgar Housing Association.
Aims:
l Review housing strategy
and develop policies on empty houses.
l Consider use of council-owned sites for affordable housing.
l Seek agreement on provision of affordable housing on the former Ministry of Defence North Site.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Achievements:
l Offered Pickersleigh Road site for new health centre.
l Encouraged more young people to take part in physical exercise.
l Appointed full-time community sports coach.
l Gave financial support to Tenbury Swimming Pool.
l Newlook Malvern Splash.
l New dental centre opened in Osborne Rod, Malvern.
Aims:
l More sport for disadvantaged young people.
l Provide coaches to create new sporting opportunities.
l Improve concessions at the Splash and other outlets.
l Smoke-free campaign to reduce passive smoking in public places.
l Support provision of new dental services.
l Promote healthier foods in schools.
l Promote breast-feeding.
RECYCLING
Achievements:
l 21.5 per cent of household waste recycled, compared with statutory target of 18 per cent.
l Improved kerbside collection and recycling sites.
l More households are composting green waste.
Aims:
l Promote recycling, composting, waste reduction.
l A recycling award scheme.
l Set up resource exchange to reduce the goods binned.
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