Comments were sought from all sections of the community to the draft Sustainable Community Strategy that sets out the priorities and vision for the district from now until 2021.

The Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) has drawn up the draft strategy and sought views from anyone who lives or works in the district. You can see the draft strategy by using the links below.

Part 1 of the draft Sustainable Community Strategy contains a district profile and provides the evidence base for the second part of the Strategy (PDF 968kb)

Part 2 of the draft Sustainable Community Strategy contains the evaluation of the key issues facing the district and the LSP's vision for 2021 (PDF 425kb)

The closing date for comments was Friday, October 10, and various organisations across the district with a key role to play in the future of the district were asked for their views, including town and parish councils, local businesses, community and voluntary organisations.

What is the draft Sustainable Community Strategy?

The draft Sustainable Community Strategy sets out the overall strategic direction and long-term vision for the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Suffolk Coastal district, and in a way that will be sustainable.

It has been drawn up by the LSP which is made up of representatives from across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors in our district and is the district’s most important document or strategy as it impacts on all aspects of life.

Suffolk Coastal has, at 92 per cent, one of highest quality of life ratings among its residents of anywhere in the country, and the goal of this strategy is to do everything possible to maintain that status, while meeting the very real needs and challenges facing our communities

Among the issues facing the district are affordable homes, the needs and aspirations of older people, young people, access to services, health and wellbeing, crime and the fear of crime, vulnerable people,  business growth, improving skills and learning, climate change, waste and recycling, the district’s rich and valued environment, and its coast and estuaries.

The LSP recently consulted on its 10 key issues, and in the strategy goes on to explain its vision for the district for 2021 of being a place where people want to live and to invest, to care for others and the environment.

The LSP's more detailed vision for life in 2021 explains how we want our residents to access services, with strong and supportive communities, in a district facing up positively to the challenges of climate change, with a strong economy and skilled workers, with healthier lifestyles for all, with young people playing a central role in the future.

"We have identified our priority outcomes that we want to achieve between now and 2021 and they are challenging but achievable. What we now want to check is whether people agree with our vision, with our goals and targets and I would ask everyone to take the time to give us their views,” said Cllr Ray Herring, Chairman of the LSP Board.

The Community Strategy is a vital document which outlines our shared vision for the district's future and the key issues that need to be addressed to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of our communities.

We last updated our priorities in 2005 and we recognised that it was time to review them to take account of any significant changes. Most of the key challenges facing us are probably the same, but there is probably a need to put an even bigger emphasis on reducing the effects of climate change and other environmental issues.

Four of these issues are already being tackled by the LSP and its partners - these are:-

• community safety;
• estuary and coastal management;
• housing;
• providing support for vulnerable people of all ages to allow them to live independent lives in our community.

A further six  priorities are the ones that the LSP Board will now concentrate its efforts on.

These further six priorities are:-

• access to services;
• climate change and the environment;
• community development;
• economy, learning and skills;
• health and wellbeing;
• young people.

In a bit more detail, these six priorities are:-

Access to services includes addressing the problems faced by people living in rural parts of the district, along with the ever-increasing centralisation of specialist services, and the opportunities presented by new technology.

Climate change and the environment includes encouraging carbon reduction initiatives and energy efficiency, and how the district and its coastal areas need to adapt to and address the problems that climate change could bring.

Community development is about encouraging the district’s voluntary and community groups, the so-called third sector, who play such an important role in the daily life of much of the district.

Economy, learning and skills is about encouraging and supporting existing businesses, attracting new well-paid jobs, and providing the skilled local workforce to meet the job opportunities on offer.

Health and wellbeing is about working to encourage people to become fitter and tackle issues that affect our more vulnerable residents.

Young people is about working more closely with them so that the key services they want are on offer and that they are better able to look forward to a rewarding future in their home district.

Working groups of the LSP have drawn up action plans to tackle its current key issues and meet the aims and ambitions of the Partnership. These aims and ambitions can be seen in full in the LSP's Community Strategy Suffolk Coastal 2021. By following the link you can download Suffolk Coastal 2021 (PDF 295kb).