Bolton Council's three-year plan has come together

3:05pm Thursday 13th September 2007

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MORE affordable housing, use of renewable energy and targets to cut crime and improve health are among the aims of a new Bolton Council blueprint.

"The Bolton Plan", dubbed the authority's 'to do list', sets out its priorities from 2007 to 2010.

It aims to make the town more prosperous, improve council services and narrow the gap between the least and the most well off.

The document shows the contribution the council will be making to Bolton: Our Vision 2007-2017, a long-term strategy agreed with partners including police and health chiefs to boost the borough.

The first of the aspirations likely to be delivered is the publication of an affordable housing plan by the end of October which will aim to provide 100 new affordable homes a year.

Bolton's social housing stock faces a yearly shortfall of 435 properties as tenants continue to buy council houses under a right-to-buy scheme.

Efforts will be made to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured from 101 last year to 81 by 2008.

And the council will also work with police in a bid to reduce prolific offending by 15 per cent.

The green agenda sees a target of using 350KW in renewable energy such as wind turbines and solar panels to power council buildings by March 2009, rising to 800KW by 2010.

The plan also aims to: Encourage more people to volunteer, including for a new museum and archive volunteer project which would involve 250 people working with collections and at historical sites by March 2010.

Embark upon major refurbishments of libraries and the Albert Halls to generate an extra £100,000 by March 2010.

Promote grants for insulation and central heating, speed up treatment of alcoholism, cut smoking on 13 target estates, and reduce child obesity and the under-18 conception rate.

Increase the number of council tax and housing benefit claimants, while getting 500 people off work-related benefits by 2009.

Ensure 400 parents take part in parenting courses every year by 2010.

Ensure by 2008 that at least 30 per cent of pupils achieve five GCSEs at grades A* to C and that by 2008/09 at least 50 per cent achieve level five or above, at all schools.

Increase the number of businesses attracted to Bolton from six in 2005 to 16 in 2008/09.

Reduce the percentage of land and roads with "unacceptable" litter from 32 per cent to 22 per cent Ensure 80 refugees from the Gateway Resettlement Programme are housed and intergrated into the community every year.

Council leader, Cllr Cliff Morris urged people to get hold of the plan which he described as "exciting and challenging."

"It's how we are going about changing our borough to be a better place to live and work and it also sends out a powerful message about how the council wants to work in the future," he said.

"In a way you could call it our to do' list to improve the prosperity and health of our citizens.

"It's ambitious but Bolton always has been an ambitious place and we make no apology for that."

The plan is available to view online at www.bolton.gov.uk and at all council reception points.

It can also be obtained from James Farr in the Policy Improvement Team on 01204 331382 or via email at james.farr@bolton.gov.uk