What is an ‘Area Partnership’?
A group of community representatives lobbying for improving quality of life in a specific area through building links between organizations, researching needs, applying for funding and supporting projects that lead to tangible social, economic and/or environmental benefits.
History:
In 2002 Local Strategic Partnerships were created by government to join up key players to enable more efficient decisions and more effective service provision. There are LSPs at County Council and District Council level, this latter at NNDC is called the North Norfolk Community Partnership (NNCP).
In 2003 NNCP created seven area partnerships to work at local community level and set these in the market towns: Cromer, Holt, Fakenham, North Walsham, Sheringham, Stalham and Wells.
The NNCP’s vision for North Norfolk is a place where everyone can enjoy a high quality of life and where the unique and attractive environment is sustained into the future. It is a place:
- Where people have diverse careers and training opportunities and jobs which add value.
- Where residents choose healthy lifestyles in sustainable communities and can access a wide range of activities to meet everyone’s needs.
- Where the environment is protected and where the identity and special character of the area is retained.
Holt Area Partnership was set up in 2006 by a number of organisations including the Holt Town Council, Parish Councils, District Councillors and other statutory bodies e.g. police, primary school, Holt Hall and Holt Country Park. Local voluntary and community groups were also involved at the inception and have continued to be stakeholders e.g. Holt Youth Project, Holt and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce and local Community Centres.
The Local Area Agreement 2009-2010 Action Plan sets a framework, and the LSP targets are highlighted into main thematic areas by NNCP i.e. housing, better jobs and prospects, quality of life. These can be summarised as ‘a nice place to live work and visit’. Holt Area Partnership works to strengthen communities within these terms of reference as well as feeding back concerns and issues arising from local consultation.
Above (L-R): Coordinators for Griffin (North Walsham) and Holt Area Partnerships, Robin Smith -NNDC’s Economic and Tourism Officer, Coordinators for Poppyland (Cromer) and Wells Area Partnerships.
These overlap with similar NNDC objectives and have an increased emphasis on environment and tourism. NCC objectives further emphasise learning and health and developing cultural heritage and resources all of which Holt Area Partnership is working to promote and extend.
Examples:
Housing – promoting ‘Your Choice Your Home’ info from NNDC and Victory Housing, working with police SNT on safer neighbourhood schemes addressing housing concerns and community issues.
Better jobs and prospects – set up Holt Area Community Bank Credit Union with Holt CAB; working with Adult Ed and Holt Youth Project to identify and meet gaps in provision of learning opportunities.
Quality of life - awarded Community Chest grants to 10 projects that will all support in various ways this theme. Organising North Norfolk Older People’s Forum event on the 14th September 2010.
Tourism: HAP promoted Holt at the Simply Outstanding event in Hunstanton on 18 March 2010 with some sponsorship from Holt Chamber of Trade and Commerce. HAP are also supporting the Holt Society ‘First Impressions’ booklet due to be launched later this year. We are also supporting and promoting the Holt Festival (see Projects).
Environment: frequent support with statutory (Holt Hall) and local voluntary/ community groups developing eco projects.
