Count down to community conference

3 September 2007

More than 100 delegates have signed up for a conference that will see the launch of a plan to shape life in the district over the next 14 years.

More activities for teenagers, reducing our impact on the environment and encouraging more volunteers are some of the issues that will be discussed at Shaping Our Future Together - the first annual community conference to be hosted by the St Albans and District Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) on September 14.

The conference will see the launch of the new Community Strategy - a plan that brings together the work of public and private organisations with the aim of improving life in the district.

Delegates will hear about action that is already being taken to reduce crime, encourage green travel and about community work taking place in Sopwell.

Keynote speakers for the day are Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, and St Albans resident Stephen Joseph, of sustainable transport organisation, Transport 2000.

During the conference, workshops will be held on projects identified for action in the new community strategy, such as providing activities for young people and reducing inequalities.

Councillor Robert Donald, chair of the LSP, commented: "We know from the number of people wanting to move into our area what a great place our city and district is already, but we also know that there are increasing pressures on us in the South East threatening our quality of life as a community.

"While many of these priorities are being addressed the LSP is aware that there are some critical gaps in our local services and facilities preventing us being even better.

"At the launch of the new Community Strategy the Local Strategic Partnership will demonstrate how it intends to tackle some of these gaps and ensure sustainable improvement happens locally over the next decade.

"The LSP will be targeting its resources on: improving young people's provision, supporting voluntary organisations in their preventative community work, enabling more volunteering and participation in the community, reducing our impact on the environment and reducing inequalities.

"The LSP's first Annual Conference is designed to be challenging. Our guest speakers will I know stimulate audience response around their conference themes and representatives attending will have the opportunity to contribute how they or their organisations, can work with the LSP in the future as partners to make St Albans district a better, healthier and more participative place to be.

"This is the community's strategy and it needs the community's active support and involvement to ensure it turns aspirations into action."

The conference takes place on Friday, 14th September, at Rothamsted Research Conference Centre, Harpenden between 12pm and 4.30pm.

To attend contact the LSP co-ordinator at info@stalbanslsp.org.uk or 01727 819518

For more information about the LSP contact the co-ordinator or go to the website www.stalbanslsp.org.uk, for an update on progress.

Note to editors: Made up of key voluntary, public and private sector organisations, the St Albans and District Local Strategic Partnership's task is to deliver and implement the Community Strategy, improving the quality of life in the district and making it a better place to live, work and visit.

Partnership members are:

• St Albans City and District Council
• Hertfordshire County Council
• Hertfordshire Constabulary
• West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust
• Oaklands College
• University of Hertfordshire
• St Albans District Association of Local Councils
• Hightown Praetorian and Churches Housing Association
• St Albans and District Chamber of Commerce
• Rothamsted Research
• St Albans District Council for Voluntary Service
• Churches Together in St Albans
• St Albans District Environment Forum
• St Albans and District Access Group
• St Albans Racial Equality Council

For further information please contact:
Deborah Williams
Public Relations Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 814605
e-mail: d.williams@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk