Trafford Council’s Labour Leader has welcomed the outcomes of a report that details how key areas within the organisation are performing.
Cllr Tom Ross was speaking to the authority’s Corporate Plan which was discussed during the meeting of the Executive on Monday.
The plan describes the council’s strategic vision, outcomes and priorities for the borough and maps out how it will work with residents, communities, businesses, and partners to deliver change.
This is the final report for the current Corporate Plan – as a refreshed version will be launched in the coming weeks.
It was first developed in 2021 and was designed to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it has recently been refreshed, with input from both residents and staff, so the focus will now turn to the new challenges and opportunities facing the borough.
Below are the council’s current three key priorities:
- Reducing Health Inequalities
- Supporting People out of Poverty
- Addressing the Climate Crisis
Health inequalities:
Public Health commissioned several organisations to monitor and address some of the health inequalities within the borough over a five-year period.
Some of the cross-sector work includes:
- Beyond Empower is working with people with physical and learning disabilities and sensory impairments
- Hidden Treasures is working with the Partington community as an area of high deprivation
- Voice of BME is working with ethnically diverse communities
- Age UK Trafford is working with older people from deprived communities
In addition, three of Trafford’s neighbourhood networks have prioritised mental health within their plans. Action is being targeted towards support for residents in the form of signposting and early intervention. A Mental wellbeing training course for frontline workers will be rolled out because for many, talking can feel difficult, but a small gesture or conversation can make a big difference when it comes to getting support and improving mental health.
Supporting People out of Poverty:
The authority is also working alongside key partners to provide residents, who are experiencing the effects of poverty, with the necessary skills, opportunities, and information that gives them the choices and power to prevent and reduce poverty.
Cross sector work includes:
- Trafford Poverty Action Group aims to make the borough a place where no-one is marginalised or discriminated against due to their financial or material circumstances.
- Trafford Council and L&Q have committed resources to develop the Poverty Truth Commission recommendation to develop a ‘Voice of Lived Experience’ panel.
- Trafford’s Welfare Rights Team and Citizens Advice Trafford are working to develop a seamless referral process for residents who need support for complex welfare rights cases.
- Trafford Poverty Action Group members have been working to better understand where residents can access help with energy costs and access to furniture.
Addressing the Climate Crisis:
Trafford Council has made addressing the climate crisis a priority – and a part of that vision is to work at pace towards becoming more environmentally friendly. As a frontrunner in the UK for climate action the authority is continuously striving to become net zero by 2038.
However, Trafford Council alone cannot deliver on the Net Zero target and wide community and cross sector action is required.
Cross sector work includes:
- The council ran a Green Skills Job Fair, with employers and training providers in the borough’s growing ‘green sector’ showcasing exciting opportunities. Numerous employers showcased careers that support the authority’s environmental goals, which include its net zero carbon emissions target, nature restoration and combating the climate crisis.
- Sale Water Park has opened its state-of-the-art EV charging hub, equipped with 16 ultra-rapid charging bays. The £1million site, installed and maintained by EV charging network Be.EV, is capable of charging 380 cars on any given day.
- The council is installing new cycleways, pathways, smart traffic lights and upgrades to current crossing arrangements at the junction of Talbot Road and Chester Road to help improve safety for people walking, wheeling or cycling.
- The council is working with two schools to assess viability for rooftop solar PV, as part of GMCA’s Powering our Schools programme.
Cllr Ross said: “There is a lot of excellent work happening behind the scenes, which has been documented within this detailed report.
“The council has a clear strategic approach and vision for the borough’s residents, businesses and key partners – and I’m proud of the fact that we impact positively on people’s lives in Trafford day in, day out.
“However, we also know that many people are struggling due to the impact of the economy; and we understand poverty and disadvantage cause real harm to our residents especially to their health and wellbeing.
“I therefore welcome the work being undertaken within our three key areas that is focused directly on providing support and better outcomes for families across all sectors of our borough.”
To access the full report click here.