Ashford.gov.uk - Corporate Plan

Corporate Plan

Good quality services giving best value for money

By 2010 we will:

Provide excellent services and good value for money.
Provide top quality customer service and maintain high customer satisfaction levels.
Protect the health of the community and address key health issues.
Maintain the level of Council Tax as amongst the lowest in Kent.

By 2010 we will:

Develop a new Sustainable Community Strategy to promote the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area.
Tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
Provide more integrated and efficient services through effective partnership working.
Improve the efficiency and speed for managing planning applications for major development sites.
Engage young people to ensure services provided meet their needs and aspirations.

By 2010 we will:

Improve communication with residents.
Achieve and maintain accessibility standards for the Council’s website.
Improve opportunities for residents to influence the provision of council services.
Finalise and implement a Social Inclusion Strategy with guidance on how to liaise with ‘hard to reach’ groups.
Answer 88% of customer enquiries at first point of contact.
Consult and gain feedback from those interested in helping to shape future planning and development issues in the Borough.

By 2010 we will:

Develop a new County-wide waste strategy and achieve national targets for the recycling/composting of municipal waste.
Open a new Environment Centre adjacent to the Community Woodland at Singleton by 2008.
Manage Ashford’s network of green open spaces.
Require that all new homes built in the Borough meet challenging standards in environmental sustainability.
Ensure the management of water supply and waste water treatment meets the needs of the Borough’s growing population.

By 2010 we will:

Adopt (by 2008) a Local Development Framework "Core Strategy" to govern the Borough’s growth in the period to 2021.
Maintain local democratic control over the nature, pace and quality of Ashford’s growth.
Transform Ashford town centre.
Support a new Learning Campus in Ashford town centre.
Implement the first stages of the Ashford Parking Strategy.
Work with partners to bring forward a high quality and comprehensively planned area of shopping, offices, homes and leisure space along the Elwick Road corridor.

By 2010 we will:

Work with partners to provide 968 homes of excellent quality at an affordable cost to meet the range of housing needs within the community.
Complete 75% of the regeneration works at Stanhope.
Provide a tenant lead housing service to improve choice and satisfaction levels, deliver new services, retain decent homes standards and regenerate existing Council housing areas.
Promote an effective housing service to reduce homelessness and temporary accommodation.

By 2010 we will:

Work with partners to attract good jobs and businesses to the area.
Work with partners to bring forward the high speed train services to and from London.
Improve private sector commercial development investment opportunities.
Improve business productivity and sustainable business.
Protect the character and viability of the rural areas of the Borough.
Improve Ashford’s streets and public spaces.