A major plan to make life in Calderdale better for everyone has had a transformational impact, according to a review of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022-2024.
At the Cabinet meeting on Monday 11 March 2024, Councillors will discuss the plan’s progress on helping to improve life for residents, businesses and visitors at a time of significant challenge.
Launched in September 2022, the Corporate Plan kickstarted the change needed to address key issues, including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, unprecedented demand for Council services alongside rising costs, and to deliver a major investment programme for the borough.
Cllr Silvia Dacre, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
“We are ambitious for Calderdale. We care about our communities and want to make a positive difference. The Corporate Plan was our way of setting out a clear path for dealing with the things that matter most to local people, working as a partnership with other organisations and the community.
“Against the backdrop of some very challenging issues, we wanted to bring hope and optimism, work towards the Vision 2024 for Calderdale and help achieve our priorities to reduce inequalities, develop thriving towns and places, and take climate action.
“We are proud that we have taken big strides, as highlighted in the Corporate Plan progress report and the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge review in November 2023 that praised our “clear and impressive progress and ambitious approach to transformation”. We simply can’t do everything we want because of ongoing budget and demand pressures, but over the past two years we have moved closer to being a diverse and inclusive place where people have hope, jobs, good health and can reach their potential, where businesses thrive, and where the environment is protected.”
Progress is based on how the Corporate Plan has helped to achieve the Council’s three priorities. Here are some examples of key achievements from 2022 to 2024:
Reducing inequalities
- More support for people struggling with the cost of living, thanks to organisations across Calderdale being trained on how to give advice on money and debt.
- Investment in projects, parks, green spaces and public areas, helping residents to be more physically active. This includes the refurbishment of Sunnybank playground and girls’ football sessions in Mixenden, and wheelchair rugby and basketball in Park ward.
- A significant increase in people applying to be foster carers, following more marketing campaigns.
- Launched the Council’s Workforce Strategy to be an employer of choice, to address inequality and to ensure staff have the skills, leadership and values to support our diverse communities.
Thriving towns and places
- New housing and employment developments are progressing through the planning process, putting into action the Local Plan that was adopted in March 2023 to build a better Calderdale for all.
- Completed 51 new affordable homes, renovated 70 homes to provide better insultation and drainage, and moved towards completion of another 55 new homes as part of the Beech Hill transformation in Halifax.
- Commissioned 11 local creative organisations to deliver big projects and events as part of the Year of Culture 2024, and continued to prepare a wider events programme to inspire, entertain, champion culture, heritage and creativity, and bring economic value and lasting impacts for local communities.
Taking action to respond to the climate emergency
- Published the Calderdale Climate Action Plan as a partnership document guiding the joint work of the Council and other organisations to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2038.
- Raised Calderdale’s regional and national profile through representation at UK100’s Climate Leadership Academy. Cllr Scott Patient, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Active Travel and Housing, is one of only 20 Councillors from across the UK to be selected to take part, which helps Calderdale to provide leadership and showcase best practice.
- Secured £4 million of government funding to retrofit 200 homes, and nearing completion of the Local Area Energy Plan to map how to reduce carbon emissions.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting will be held on Monday 11 March at Halifax Town Hall from 3pm. The meeting can also be viewed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)
April 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday and there are just two months to go! Get involved on X with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision