The first Community Strategy was produced following consultation with a wide range of local partners and approved by the Local Strategic Partnership in 2003.

It was based around the following 5 aims, A Prosperous Economy, Education and Skills for All, Sustainable Communities, Good Health & Social Well Being, A Quality Environment.

Following the production of the 2003 Craven Community Strategy a number of theme groups have been working to deliver the aims of the Community Strategy.

Since 2005/06, Annual Reports and Annual Targets documents have been published summarising the achievements and successes that the Craven Local Strategic Partnership and its theme groups.

The LSP and theme groups have brought key local organisations together and enabled them to develop closer working relationships. This means that organisations better understand each other and are more confident about working in partnership to improve Craven.

The 2003 Craven Community Strategy has helped local organisations focus on how they can best meet the needs of people living in Craven by working together to an agreed set of joint aims.

The Community Strategy was always intended to be a living document which changed in response to local needs and during 2006 the content of the community Strategy was reviewed to make sure it was still relevant.

Widespread consultation has taken place regarding the content of the new Sustainable Community Strategy and the structure of the LSP.

This consultation included:

Seeking the views of local residents through Craven Area Forums, and wide distribution of information leaflets.

 

Providing information and seeking the views of Craven District Councillors, North Yorkshire County Councillors, Parish Councillors, Parish Meetings, local voluntary sector organisations and existing LSP theme groups.

 

Inviting all Parish Councils and Meetings to an information session on the review of the Community Strategy and the development of the Local Development Framework.

This consultation culminated in the “Planning the Future” Community Strategy Review Conference which took place on 29 September 2006 and was attended by over 80 people from a wide range of local organisations who came together to discuss the Community Strategy and start to shape the content of the revised document and identify local priorities.

Information from this event along with feedback from active theme groups, priorities from partner agencies and the latest guidance from government has been used to draft the Craven Sustainable Community Strategy 2007-13.