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Annual Report 2007-8
Wells Area Partnership (WAP)
Wells Area Partnership (WAP) began operating in 2006. It
is an independent community led organisation that works to
improve the quality of life and the delivery of services in
the Wells area of North Norfolk. It seeks to create a sustainable
community longer term, looking at the social, economic and
environmental needs of the area.
WAP is one of seven Area Partnerships in North Norfolk and
works in the parishes of Burnham Market, Burnham Norton, Burnham
Overy, Burnham Thorpe, North & South Creake, Walsingham,
Holkham, Warham, Binham, Wighton, Hindringham, Stiffkey, Field
Dalling, Wiveton, Blakeney, Cley, Morston, Langham and Wells.
It’s membership consists of individuals, parish councils,
community groups, businesses and statutory organisations such
as the police and fits into a national network of similar organisations.
Our role is to:
- Consult local people and enable greater participation in
decision-making about the area and services
- Create specific projects that help address local need and
fills gaps in services (for example we initiated the process
leading to Homes for Wells a local housing charity)
- Attract funding to the area (for example we secured) a £10,000
community chest fund for use by local groups
- Act as a community resource such as co-ordinating community
events and sharing equipment
In 2007- 8 WAP
- Completed community wide consultation in the Wells area
and reported back to stakeholders and the public. There was a 40% response
rate and 920 comments returned from a postal survey, public
event and schools participation. This is a very high
rate of response. The key priorities were identified
as:
- More affordable housing for local people
- Development of key community facilities including the Maltings
- More employment opportunities particularly for young people
- Projects that support a sustainable environment
- Submitted WAP case to NNDC in respect of Local Development
Framework (LDF) consultation regarding future development
of Wells. We argued the case for seeing Wells in a
more positive light rather than as an ‘unsustainable
location’ as the LDF had originally stated. I
am glad to say we won this case and helped rewrite the section
on Wells, highlighting the need and potential ways to develop
a more year-round diverse economy.
- Established Homes for Wells in terms of a Board with sound
policies and practices. We secured funding for a part-time
co-coordinator and our Coordinator helped negotiations with
local landlords for a Homes for Wells tenancy on two flats
and three houses for key workers and local people and secured
a legacy on a second home property. WAP is now able
to step back from involvement with HfW to focus on other
priorities.
- Met with West Norfolk LSP about working in the Burnhams
and setting up a similar housing model as Homes for Wells.
- Mailed second home owners in Wells with a ‘Skills
Share’ letter outlining role of WAP and Homes for Wells
and inviting feedback – received 11 letters back offering
support and expertise in Local government, planning design
and architectural services among others.
- Brought together Walsingham Parish Council, The Shrine,
Youth Service and SNT (Community Police Team) to address
some of the issues around youth offending in Walsingham. Secured
a grant of £5k from Norfolk Community Foundation and £1k
from the YMCA to deliver focused youth activities in the
village.
- Took part in village consultations with the SNT team to
identify key policing priorities for the area.
- Supported Stiffkey group keen to create a Parish Plan for
the village and provided resources to carry out a consultation.
- Part of project group looking to transform the Congregational
Church Hall into a new community centre in Wells. Supporting
project through a grant search.
- Gave a presentation about WAP and represented all LAP’s
at a workshop run by the Chief Executive at Norfolk County
Council for Heads of Department and County Councilors to
hear about the work of the local LAP’s. Also
gave a presentation at the NNCP community conference with
parish and town councils present.
- Took part in Asset Review meetings with NNDC, Wells Town
Council and others regarding future of publicly owned assets
in Wells. Part of the project group looking to create a strategy
and action plan that will deliver a more sustainable future
for the area.
- Completed a tourism snapshot survey in Wells to present
to the Asset Review team and consultants in Wells as part
of the ‘Wells Community Project’ which involves
the Maltings Community Association, NNDC, WTC, NNCP, WAP
and others looking at the regeneration potentials of Wells. We
hope this project will in particular help resolve outstanding
issues over NNDC assets within Wells, as well as highlighting
ways to improve the sustainability of the ‘destination
offer’ of Wells.
- Wells Youth Network worked on skate park project for the
area with the SNT.
- WAP took over managing Wells Business Forum in the interim
until a new Chair and focus group gets established. WBF
has ceased to operate as a separate entity due to lack of
support but has floated off the successful community Quay
magazine.
- Started work on setting up a Credit Union for the WAP area.
- The WAP Environment Forum met several times and is looking
into home insulation, renewable energy projects and other
issues.
- Supported Wells Community Hospital in NNCP bid for managing
development of infrastructure of the hospital. The
bid was unsuccessful but WAP is continuing to support WCH
to help secure future finance.
- Worked with Holt Area Partnership on a Solar Street Light
project.
- We took part in the NNCP Board structure review with LAP’s
forming their own group – the LAPA. We are participating
in the objective-setting and project-making discussions in
the Thematic Groups in terms of Housing, quality of life
and ‘a nice place to live and work’.
Looking forward, Wells Area Partnership intends to work with
the NNDC Asset Review team to identify projects it may be able
to deliver, roll out the successful Homes for Wells model in
other parishes, work with the SNT and others to secure funding
for youth activity in the outlying villages as well as delivering
other objectives highlighted in the WAP Action Plan, including
environmental sustainability.
Lastly I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Co-ordinator
Kate Parker who has moved to the area from the North West where
she has extensive community and local government experience. She
is with us to cover an extended Maternity Leave for our founding
Co-ordinator Fiona MacCallum.
We all owe Fi a great debt of gratitude for tireless efforts
in all the above projects. Many volunteers and partners
have contributed to these projects and on behalf of the Board
and Trustees I would like to thank them all but without the
work Fi has done very few of the successes would have been
realised. Thank you Fi and her assistant Co-ordinator Emily
Grecas.
Chris Rose
Chairman WAP 2007 – 8
www.wellsareapartnership.org.uk
October 2008
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