RESIDENTS, businesses and community groups across Basingstoke and Deane are being invited to give their views on a new ambitious four-year plan which aims to ensure the borough remains a great place to live and work.

A draft Council Plan for 2020 to 2024 has been discussed by members of the cabinet and it sets the key priorities for the borough council over the next four years.

This plan will build on key council policies and Horizon 2050 which was developed with key partners across the borough.

Cabinet members said that the plan has a focus on putting residents at the heart of everything the borough council does.

This includes planning for the future by ensuring residents have access to high quality and affordable homes, attracting new employers to the borough and playing a key role with partners to ensure the right infrastructure is in place.

Delivering services that matter most to residents and supporting communities to thrive while supporting the borough’s most vulnerable residents and working closely with the police to ensure residents feel safe is also a key priority.

Underpinning this is a drive to ensure the council works with residents, businesses and its partners after a climate emergency was declared by councillors in July 2019. As well as taking steps with partners to improve air and river quality and biodiversity, the plan confirms a commitment to being a zero carbon council by 2025 and a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

Chief executive at the borough council Mel Barrett said: “Residents give the area a 94% satisfaction rating however the council is not complacent.

“Based on what people and businesses have said matters to them, this draft plan sets priorities that put residents at the heart of the council’s future plans.

“As residents, businesses and our partner organisations are key to the success of the plan, we would love to hear from as many of them as possible to ensure that the council has identified the right priorities.”

People wishing to give their views on the proposed Council Plan must do so by January 1.

Feedback can be left by visiting basingstoke.gov.uk/priorities.