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BUCKLAND MONACHORUM,
CRAPSTONE AND MILTON COMBE CONSULTATION REPORT
| 1. Index | 9. Local Activities, Sports & Leisure |
| 2. Introduction | 10. Information & Communications |
| 3. The Questionnaire | 11. Crime & Safety |
| 4. Traffic & Highways | 12. Local Government |
| 5. Public Transport | 13. Employment |
| 6. School Transport | 14. Suggestions for Next Steps |
| 7. Environment | 15. Flyer for Wine & Cheese Evening |
| 8. Local Services |
This report is the result of the consultation process that has taken place in Buckland Monachorum, Crapstone and Milton Combe in the past 6 months. It will explain the background to the consultation and give a summary of the main findings. This report is being delivered to every household in the consultation area.
Invest to Save Budget is a Treasury (Central Government) funded project; its underlying principle is to encourage agencies to work together to maximise the opportunity to provide a more efficient service overall and to avoid duplication, thereby saving money. In West Devon, West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) is running a pilot project using the Invest to Save Budget (ISB) funding in an imaginative way. The aim of this project is to assist four communities by helping them in carrying out community consultations, developing Community Action Plans, which can be used as the basis for future funding bids, and also as a mechanism for dialogue with the agencies, with the aim of changing practices to fit in more closely with the wishes of the communities.
Four communities were chosen (with their agreement) for the West Devon project; Spreyton lies on the eastern border of West Devon and looks outside of the borough for many of its services; Hatherleigh is a market town that has been affected badly by Foot and Mouth disease; Buckland Monachorum has a high proportion of residents commuting outside of the parish to work; and Princetown is an isolated moorland community with a high level of need.
In West Devon the project is being led by West Devon Borough Council, working with Devon County Council, and the two Primary Health Care Trusts covering the area; the action planning aspects of the work have been contracted to West DEN. The project also addresses debt counselling, welfare benefit take up, and credit unions, as well as looking to identify the best use of ICT (computers) in each community.
INVEST TO SAVE IN BUCKLAND MONACHORUM
One of the key elements to the success of this project in each community is the involvement of a Local Steering Group. It is vital that the project is useful to each community, providing something of value, which can then be sustained after the life of the project. Buckland Monachorum Community Partnership was approached and they agreed to act as the Local Steering Group for the duration of the project. They have been actively involved at all stages, thus ensuring the project’s success.
Although the project intended to only consult with Buckland Monachorum, very early on there was seen to be a link between Buckland Monachorum, Crapstone and Milton Combe. It was agreed with WDBC to extend the area for consultation. There are representatives from the three villages involved in the project.
The Community Partnership had been considering having a community appraisal but realised that this could be a very long process often taking up to 12 months. Various alternative methods of consultation were discussed and it became apparent that within the community there are many different groups and organisations. It was agreed to ask all of them to contribute to a consultation exhibition. This would be an opportunity for groups to become involved in the process and prepare some posters and information about their group. All members of the community would then be able to visit the exhibition. Groups were asked to write about what they do and their wishes for the future. ICT assistance was offered to any group or organisation. 24 Groups put forward displays, representing a wide range of interests in the village.
In order to offer as many people as possible a chance to visit the exhibition it was decided to hold the exhibition over 6 days offering a choice of times and locations. It started the week in Milton Combe in the village hall, moved to Crapstone where it was located in the Hairdresser and then to Buckland Monachorum village hall. On the final day it was moved to St. Andrew’s school in Buckland Monachorum. Posters and fliers were produced, advertising the times and encouraging people to visit the exhibition to learn more about their community. There was also a large map of each village on which people were able to mark locations on which they wished to comment. "Post it" notes and pens were provided for people to write down comments and suggestions that they could attach to the display.
Consultation in Buckland Monachorum village hall.
RESULTS OF CONSULTATION WEEK
ISB and Buckland Monachorum Community Partnership ran the consultation week very successfully with 150 people recorded as attending and 270 comments written. These were then collated into a document. Several themes emerged and these then formed the basis of the questionnaire. People attending the week enjoyed the opportunity to meet with other members of the community and learn all about the many groups and organisations. They were also pleased to be able to write comments about any issues and this was reflected in the large number and variety of the responses. At least one person was manning the exhibition at all times and this gave people the opportunity to talk about the exhibition and generally about how they felt living in this community.
The exhibition was then followed up with a questionnaire that was compiled based on the themes and issues that emerged during the consultation week. This was delivered to all households in February and the results have been used to write this report, which has now been delivered to each household. The final stage is to produce the Community Action Plan. This will be presented to the community at a Public meeting to be held on Friday May 10th at St. Andrew’s school hall, Buckland Monachorum, from 7.00-8.30p.m.
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Page Created: May 2002
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