Corporate Plan, Chapter 2: Our Values and Vision
Barnet: the people
People who live here can expect excellence from their public services, good schools with good results and low levels of crime. Our residents live healthier and longer lives than average. These achievements happen through strong partnership working, orchestrated by the council in its role as a place shaper and co-ordinator of the Local Strategic Partnership. We will continue to work side by side with the NHS, police, the voluntary and community sector and other of these key partners. We will make sure that our roles are clear, that we commission services that meet the needs of all Barnet’s residents, businesses and visitors and our services are effectively co-ordinated.
Barnet’s Local Area Agreement, which will be concluded by 30 June 2008, represents the action plan for Barnet’s Sustainable Community Strategy, which is currently being refreshed and sets out the vision for the future of Barnet which the council shares with its partners and with the community.
Barnet is generally successful but there are a relatively small number of people who do not share in this prosperity. Barnet’s Local Area Agreement includes priorities that both support a successful city suburb, and address the needs of this smaller group of individuals, their families and their communities.
Barnet is rich in diversity. Over a quarter of our residents belong to a minority ethnic community. We believe that in order for communities to be cohesive, good services must be provided fairly to all. We are committed to working with faith and black and minority ethnic groups to identify and address community tensions or any threats to this cohesion. We are also committed to making Barnet a place where disabled people can lead fulfilling lives and play a full part in society. To help deliver these commitments we are improving our understanding of how different communities are affected by the delivery of our services.
Barnet is experiencing rapid social change and we need to build a stronger relationship with our citizens, having wider and deeper conversations to understand their needs and preferences. Our role is to provide the space for citizens to debate with the council and public agencies, and with each other, the competing priorities and build a consensus on priorities for the area, and explain how decisions were reached. We also want to give citizens greater control over their lives and the ability to make informed choices for themselves. To ensure all citizens have an equal opportunity to do all of this we need to find innovative forms of engagement and new ways of communicating with them.