November 2005

The first Community Strategy for St Albans District was launched in 2002, and it articulated the newly established St Albans and District Local Strategic Partnership's shared vision and aims to improve life for those working, living and visiting the District.

To report on progress with the Strategy, local organisations were invited to the Council Offices in St Peter's Street to see what projects had been initiated to make the vision and aims as laid out in the Community Strategy a reality. Representatives were also invited to feedback on what they consider to be priorities that the Local Strategic Partnership needed to achieve by 2010 to improve St Albans District.

65 delegates attended from a variety of bodies in the District, from local arts organisations, housing associations and voluntary groups to local health service providers, businesses and residents associations.

Delegates were given the chance to visit stalls promoting projects related to the Community Strategy and hear directly from those involved. All the projects involved successful partnership working between organisations in the District.

The initiatives that were displayed included:

• The proposed Bricket Road cinema development
• The St Albans City Centre Road Safety Scheme
• The benefits of using Fairtrade produce in the District
• Camera equipment used to record Anti-Social Behaviour
• Fun projects to educate school-children about everyday dangers, and equip them with the skills to face them

Attendees could also tour the CCTV Control Room located in the Civic Centre, and find out more about how the District-wide CCTV system operates.

As the current Community Strategy runs out in 2007, the Local Strategic Partnership will start work early in 2006 on the new Strategy and will use the feedback provided on the day to kick start the process.

If you would like more information about the Community Strategy or the Ideas Exchange, please contact Claire Andrews, Corporate Policy Officer, St Albans City and District Council on 01727 819518 or info@stalbanslsp.org.uk.