When South Lanarkshire Council asked local people what they wanted to see in the Council Plan, Connect 2022 to 2027, they responded in their thousands.

The largest public engagement exercise the council has ever undertaken identified a number of priorities covering council services for children and young people, education, housing, health outcomes, sustainable communities, and the economy.

Council Leader Joe Fagan thanked the 3,300 local people who took part in an initial survey and the hundreds more who took part in 27 follow-up Community Conversations that informed and helped formulate the plan.

Councillor Fagan said: “The Council Plan is our key high-level strategic document. It will shape all our other strategies and service delivery for the next five years, so it is absolutely vital that it genuinely reflects what our residents want.

“This plan does exactly that. The people we represent and work for have spoken, and we have listened. It is an ambitious plan too – ambitious in seeking better outcomes for our communities and better opportunities for all. This is summed up in the core vision, to ‘improve the lives and prospects of everyone in South Lanarkshire’.

“We all know that public sector finances are getting tighter and there will be some tough choices to make, but by using the Council Plan as our guide we will be sure we can do everything possible in order to follow the priorities of local residents.”

The Council Plan, Connect 2022-2027 was approved at a meeting of the full Council today, alongside a number of other key strategies. More details of these will be available via social media and on South Lanarkshire View in the coming days.

The Council Plan identifies three cross-cutting themes: People (especially the impact of poverty and inequalities), Progress (in particular, recovery from the Covid pandemic), and Planet (especially sustainable development.)

Six outcomes are also targeted: people live the healthiest lives possible; caring, connected, sustainable communities; our children and young people thrive; inspiring learners, transforming learning, strengthening partnerships; good quality, suitable and sustainable places to live; and thriving business, fair jobs and vibrant town centres.

The council’s Chief Executive, Cleland Sneddon said: “The council works closely with our communities and our many partners, so this plan cannot sit in splendid isolation. This is why it has been consulted on, developed with, and closely aligned to a draft new 10-year Community Plan, which is shared by the area’s Community Planning Partnership.

“With both those plans in place, and clearly designed to complement one another and guide the work we undertake in partnership with the NHS, police, fire and rescue service, the voluntary sector and many others – I am confident we have the right strategies to continue to improve lives and prospects of everyone in South Lanarkshire.”