Quality of Life – Shaping a Vision.
Author
Richard Garland,
Chair of the Board
Hello and welcome to the first in a series of posts that will bring to life the work of your Neighbourhood Board and our We Are Eastbourne campaign.
Let us start by setting out how this has all come about. Back in the Spring the Labour Government announced a new Plan for Neighbourhood fund (PfN) which started with the establishment of an independent Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board.
This is a UK wide programme across 75 Towns and is backed by a massive £1.5bn pound investment. However, this funding programme is unique as it aims to place residents, businesses and grass roots organisations actively at the heart of decision-making to ensure what gets delivered reflects the priorities of local citizens.
How we make this happen is very much a working partnership between the independent board – made up of residents, business owners, charity leaders and elected officials – the citizens of Eastbourne and the Borough Council.
The Board’s purpose is to provide oversight and management of this PfN funding programme, which will see £20m invested across Eastbourne over the next 10 years.
The vision for the programme is to deliver quality of life for all the town’s citizens. This is a shift that feels more personal than performative and one we believe suits independent Eastbourne well.
Quality of life is about enabling cohesion between people, their communities, nature, our coastline and economic sustainability, recognising that quality of life is different for all of us, from health and well-being, access to opportunities that create jobs, learning, leisure and sport. Creating safe, secure and connected happier communities in control of how we all experience our town and our neighbourhoods.
The interdependence of our town must start with building stronger neighbourhoods and communities and getting us used to working better together at a local level. Building resilience by supporting families, education programme and economic sustainability so that we can adapt and recover quicker when we need to.
We want to enable economic security, building a fairer and more equitable local economy that promotes regenerative business practices and to create a town wealth fund to support this approach for future generations. A beautiful place to live and work with clean and safe streets, connecting ‘things to do’ through sustainable travel.
We want to consider breathing space for all of us, creating quiet zones and clean green corridors linking communities to schools, parks, sports facilities, health centres and to the sea and the downs.
And be a world class host, recognising our important tourism sector by promoting and supporting Eastbourne as the warm and welcoming sunny seaside town it is, for residents and visitors alike. Support our beautiful seafront and ensure it is accessible, safe, clean, green and bursting with life.
The list of what we, as a town can do, is lengthy and hugely positive. It can be used for everything from pavement improvements to the creation of a new town square, it can create a community bank, bring about sustainable employment and build community hubs, new sports facilities, support health and well-being awareness campaigns for alcohol and drug abuse to road safety. Build cycle routes, redesign parks, open spaces and provide access to nature, the arts, music and sport. Schools based programme to community-based adult learning programmes are all possible.
We have begun by announcing a grant of £10,000.00 to each of the town’s nine Wards for capacity building and immediate public space improvements. Capacity building is about making sure everyone has a chance to be heard, especially those who would not normally have – or feel they have an opportunity to shape local decisions and share their ideas.