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The Rural White Paper “Our Countryside, A Fair Deal for Rural England” was presented to Parliament in November 2000. The vision set out states:

‘Living in the countryside has a great deal to offer. People value the quietness and sense of space, the beauty of natural surroundings, the traditions and sense of community. But over the last twenty years, the pace of social and economic change has put increasing pressure on rural communities. While some have attracted new businesses, many have lost local services and jobs in agriculture and other traditional industries. Poor quality development has encroached on some valued landscapes and wildlife habitats have declined. Young people have left more remote rural areas, while some villages close to cities have become commuter dormitories’

In response to this White Paper the Countryside Agency is encouraging Parish and Town councils to consult with those who live in the countryside and to develop documented plans for how the community would like to see the local environment develop in future years.

Stretton on Dunsmore Parish Council have consulted with the local community in order to establish whether such a document was seen as important to those who lived in the village. The overwhelming majority of those who expressed an interest believed that it was. Consequently the Parish Council has set terms of reference for a project team to develop a plan. (click here for details)

This project brief has been developed directly from the Stretton on Dunsmore Parish Council’s terms of reference.

1: OBJECTIVE

To produce a plan on behalf of the villagers of Stretton on Dunsmore that reflects the views of the majority of residents and societies of the village.

2: PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

To give decision makers at Parish, Borough and County levels a recommendation as to the future of the village for a period of up to 10 years.

3: COVERAGE

The plan may cover recommendations on any issue of interest and importance to the community such as the future development or otherwise of such matters as services, buildings, roads and community support services such as village halls and transport.

4: SCOPE

In order to develop the plan the project team will solicit views and evaluate solutions from residents, through a variety of reasonable means.

5: OUTLINE OF APPROACH

The project will be implemented in a controlled fashion by commissioning a project team comprising

A Project Board, to include,

a. project executive
b. communications
c. quality
d. documentation (actual plan & design statement)
e. administration
f. Borough Council Liasion
g. Project team representative

A Project team to co-ordinate the work of the focus and working groups.

Project manager (who will attend the Project Board)

Focus Groups derived geographically and also to include at least one group from the school, teenagers, and the over 60’s who will:

a. identify new issues, in particular, those local to them
b. consider and expand those already raised by questionnaire responses
c. provide feedback on potential solutions

Working groups to research impact and causes of issues raised and establish, in consultation with relevant experts, feasibility of potential solutions.

The Project Board will report to the Parish Council monthly and to the village at regular intervals.

7: AGREEMENT OF THE FINAL PLAN

A draft plan will be developed over a period of time in consultation with the village using focus groups and public consultation.
The final version will be accepted by the Parish Council and then by a majority of residents as determined by the electoral roll.

8: MAINTENANCE OF THE PLAN

One of the project deliverables will be a methodology for future refinement of the plan, periodic updates and publicity.

9: AVAILABLE BUDGET

A grant covering up to £4687.50 (and not exceeding 75% on the actual costs incurred) has been made available by the Countryside Agency. The Parish Council has undertaken to meet reasonable costs up to the remaining 25%.

10: PROJECT TIMETABLE

To be agreed and may be amended from time to time as appropriate. There is no absolute deadline but it is anticipated that the final plan should be published by September 2004.

11: KNOWN RISKS

• Lack of support from community to research of ideas.
• Lack of resource in developing ideas and concepts.
• Unrealistic expectations