Parish Plan 2008

After a little over a year of consultation and debate, we have finally published the Cotton Parish Plan.

The Plan was delivered to every household in the village during the final week of September and copies sent to key organisations with an interest/responsibility for the services in Cotton.

I’m delighted to say that initial responses have been very positive. The key now is for the action plan to become a reality! Several initiatives are already under way and we welcome the support from the Cotton Parish Council and from our District/County Councillor, Andrew Stringer.

I would like to record my thanks to my colleagues on the small, but hard working, Steering Committee and to the many people in Cotton who have contributed in various ways. Significantly the distribution and collection of questionnaires was no small feat, and the same group of volunteers have just distributed the final Plan.

As a committee we must also record our thanks to Cotton Parish Council, Suffolk County Council and Awards for All, for their funding grants that have enabled us to complete the project. We have also appreciated the support and advice we received from Suffolk ACRE who we know are supporting a number of villages producing parish plans.

We feel this was a job well done and we now pass the Plan over to the Parish Council who will oversee its implementation during the weeks and months ahead. Let’s work together to protect the many aspects of the village that we hold dear and be brave enough to try and implement the improvements that residents have identified.

Bert Bertoloni – Chair: Parish Plan Steering Committee

Why have a Parish Plan?

In April this year many of Cotton’s residents attended a public meeting at the village hall to discuss whether Cotton wanted to produce a Parish Plan, as is being done in villages up and down the country.

Those attending agreed overwhelmingly to the Plan being produced and a Steering Committee has been established to make this happen.

All towns and villages around the country are being encouraged to produce a Parish Plan which can show what the priorities are for the years ahead. This is an opportunity for those who live and work in Cotton to express their own views on what is great about the village – and so should be protected – and what should be changed to make it an even better place to live.

What will it contain?

The Plan is expected to include a range of ‘mini action plans’ that address the key issues for the village. Many will need to be taken on board by the Parish Council, some by the District and County Councils but a fair number are likely to be deliverable by people in the village itself.

At the very least, all those bodies which make decisions that impact on our village will have no excuse for saying they were not aware of what was important to US.

How will it be produced?

The key stages in producing the Parish Plan are:

Consultation amongst those who live, work and/or visit the village to identify the key issues from each individual’s perspective.

These issues will become the basis for a questionnaire which will go to every household in the village. The questionnaire will ask for views on ways in which these key issues can be addressed. There will be an additional questionnaire for young people under 18.

The Steering Committee will then pull together all the replies and draft a Plan that reflects the priorities and ideas generated.

A further public meeting will give us the opportunity to describe how the Plan is shaping up, before it is finalised and printed.

All households will get a copy of the Plan.

We are being advised on the best process to adopt to produce the Plan and we are grateful to Suffolk ACRE for their advice.

We are also grateful to the Cotton Parish Council for a grant towards the cost of this project and to Suffolk County Council for their financial support.

Where are we so far?

As at beginning of October 2008 the Steering Committee has held three consultation events and logged over 400 points of interest/concern raised by residents and visitors. We are also talking to key employers in the village.

Our next step is to convert this information into a suitable questionnaire which will go to every household in the village. Responses will help the Steering group to construct a Plan that takes account of priorities and ideas generated by the people of Cotton.

We expect to be able to distribute questionnaires in early January and to be able to start work drafting the Plan in March 2009.

Is it too late to input my views?

No. If you weren’t able to attend any of the three consultation events you can still provide your views about what you think is excellent and should be protected, or what you believe needs to be tackled to improve the village. Send your views by e-mail to the Steering committee chair, Bert Bertoloni at bertoloni@btinternet.com – by end October 2008 would be helpful.

Then please look out for the opportunity to see the draft Plan in early summer 2009, when a further public meeting will be held in the village hall.

I’m under 18 – are you interested in what I think?

We certainly are!

A separate questionnaire will be provided to enable you to comment specifically on issues that are important to you. We expect the Parish Plan will have a significant number of actions to support young people.
Cotton Parish Plan – Consultation Feedback

Three formal consultation exercises have happened so far. The results of these are shown below. Consultation continues with employers around the village and the Steering Committee remains very interested in any further topics and issues that people may not have yet had a chance to express. You may continue to let us have your views by e-mailing bertoloni@btinternet.com or sending you points to Bert Bertoloni at 4 Miles Paddock, Cotton.