Sustainable and Stronger Communities

Sustainable and Stronger Communities is one of the four themes or ‘blocks’ of the Derbyshire Local Area Agreement used to deliver outcomes that are the key issues for Derbyshire

The establishment of the Sustainable Communities theme within the Derbyshire Local Area Agreement (LAA) was different to government guidance on the overall structure of LAAs.

Sustainable Communities was established following consultation with the Derbyshire Partnership Forum (opens in a new window) and at the specific request of local partners, particularly district councils, to ensure that key issues for Derbyshire were given priority. The key issues identified were:

protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment (liveability/cleaner and greener agenda)
economy – improving employment chances for those particularly in deprived communities and other disadvantaged groups
transport – particularly access to services, jobs and to recreation.

Partners were clear that these issues should be addressed in a separate block aimed at improving the quality of life of local communities.

In the original LAA document the outcomes of increased volunteering and community involvement in decision making, were included in Safer Communities. The Sustainable Communities block has since developed and now includes these outcomes which relate to the stronger element.