Critical look at a community

A CRITICAL but constructive survey of a community, by the community, will be launched if councillors give the go-ahead.
The “Parish Plan” is being considered by members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, following a presentation from Bron Kerrigan, parish plan development officer with Cheshire Community Action.
If it goes ahead,

the plan will involve a process lasting about two years resulting in the development of a community voice which is then used to create a shared vision for the future and an action plan for turning that vision into the future.
In other parts of Cheshire, parish plans have resulted in villages benefiting from developments varying from a new £250,000 parish hall to launching parenting classes to combat youth hooliganism.
In Culcheth, the parish council will have to decide whether to press ahead with a plan – with the aid of a £250 starter grant.
If it is decided, following a launch event or meeting, to continue with the plan, further grants could be available.
Ms Kerrigan told the parish council that after the launch event, which could be a formal meeting or a more informal event such as a barbecue, volunteers would be sought for a steering group which could have representatives of the parish council but would be a separate body.
It would have its own chairman, secretary and treasurer and other officers and could set up working or focus groups. Ideally it would have representatives from different parts of the community, including the youth and the elderly.
Throughout the process there would be widespread consultation.
After aims and objectives had been established an action plan would be drawn up containing realistic and achievable proposals.
Ms Kerrigan said Warrington Borough Council were prepared to support the plan and to treat it as a pilot for the borough.
Parish council chairman Coun Ileyne Hutchinson said members would now discuss the matter in more detail before deciding whether to go ahead with the idea.