Merton Partnership, the umbrella organisation bringing together public sector, business and voluntary groups and community and faith organisations, is calling on residents to help it shape a series of commitments it will pledge to the local community for the next 10 years.
To help the partnership formally draft the commitments in the form of a community plan, residents are asked to answer four questions relating to their lives in Merton and the issues that affect them most:
1. What do you value most about Merton?
2. What do you think most needs improving?
3. What do you think local public services need to do to help improve Merton?
4. What do you think you can do to help improve Merton?
Everyone wanting to have their say on what should be in the community plan can answer the questions online at http://www.merton.gov.uk/consultations, or send their thoughts on these questions, or any other feedback they have, to the Merton Partnership Team either by email (getinvolved@merton.gov.uk) or by phone on 020 8545 4161. Paper versions of the survey are also available. Residents will have an opportunity to get involved at the Community Forums and other public meetings.
Residents, businesses and groups in Merton have until the 21 December to have their say. Their feedback will be used to develop a new Community Plan for the borough which will set out the local needs and desires for the next 10-15 years for the communities that make up the borough. The new Community Plan will be launched in spring 2013.
Leader of Merton Council and chair of Merton Partnership Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “This is a community plan in every sense, and we want the local community to help us write it. By answering the four questions, residents can have a significant say in what the partnership’s commitments to them over the next decade will be. There are many great things to celebrate about Merton. We are one of the safest and greenest boroughs in London and there is a great deal of regeneration work going on in our town centres, but we want to hear from the people who live and work here about what needs to be better.”
Reverend Andrew Wakefield, who is leading the work to develop the new Community Plan for Merton, said: “We want to know what people like about where they live, but, importantly, what they think needs improving and what contributions they think they could make to Merton. Merton is a place to be proud of, but we know there are things residents want improved, whether that’s increased prosperity, better public services or a more opportunity to offer their expertise in making Merton a vibrant and community-led borough.”
Join in the Twitter conversation with #plan4merton
More information on the Community Plan can be found at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/community-living/communityplan
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Notes to editors:
Merton’s Community Plan is the overarching strategic plan of the Merton Partnership, setting out long term vision and priorities for the borough.