The Knowsley Better Together Board today (15 March 2022) received an update on the progress made on the Knowsley 2030 Strategy and what the next steps are.
The Knowsley 2030 Strategy was co-produced by agencies representing the Knowsley Better Together Board – Knowsley Council, One Knowsley, Knowsley Clinical Commissioning Group, Merseyside Police and Commissioners Office and LIVV Housing Group – as well as residents, businesses and wider stakeholders. The strategy focusses on five outcomes that by 2030, Knowsley will be a place:-
- where strong and safe communities can shape their future
- where people are active and healthy, and have access to the support they need
- where people of all ages are confident and can achieve their full potential
- with a thriving, inclusive economy with opportunities for people and business
- with welcoming, vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods and town centres
As a result of COVID, five priority actions to respond to the pandemic were built into the strategy:-
- Developing a detailed understanding of the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 and using this to inform the provision of services and support
- Managing the economic impact of the pandemic, supporting businesses and residents and continuing with the borough’s major developments
- Encouraging residents and visitors to use our town centres and other cultural offer and giving residents the confidence to access the “new normal” services and support they need
- Enabling the voluntary sector to continue to play an important role in the Borough’s future
- Remaining vigilant to the risks of future outbreaks
Significant progress has been made to date since the Knowsley 2030 Strategy was approved in 2020. This includes:-
- Supporting residents into employment with 570 jobs created via the Kickstart Programme, and the launch of the £11.9m Restart Programme will provide targeted employment support to almost 8,000 local residents over the next three years. LIVV Housing Group’s social impact programmes focuses on building skills into employment. Work has also commenced on developing a new Learning and Skills Strategy, ensuring residents have the right skills to access local employment opportunities.
- Partners have, and continue to, work together to tackle anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse. Knowsley Council has invested £1m to tackle crime and improve safer communities.
- One Knowsley is developing a volunteering digital platform to encourage take-up and match volunteers to volunteering opportunities.
- LIVV Housing Groups is developing partnership networks to support more local social enterprises and charities, encouraging them to grow and become more sustainable.
- The Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group are developing local arrangements for the new Health and Care Partnership which launches on 1 July 2022.
- A Knowsley Better Together Hardship Fund has been established to support vulnerable residents in need with the provision of essentials such as food and heating.
- Businesses supported throughout the pandemic including processing grant awards, offering COVID-secure workplace advice and support to manage outbreaks.
- Extensive progress made through the town centre regeneration plans – construction and opening of the retail development in Kirkby, more shop front improvements and food /drink outlets opening in Huyton Village Centre and work has continued on the construction of The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot.
- 2022 is Knowsley’s year as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture – providing a great opportunity for partners and communities to come together to celebrate Knowsley’s cultural offer.
Next steps
A ‘Knowsley Offer’ will be developed over the coming months with agencies and communities coming together to identify what is needed to support our people and communities to thrive.
Partnership forums will be established to drive forward elements of the 2030 strategy and a detailed monitoring framework will be developed, identifying key outcomes to track progress.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council and Chair of the Knowsley Better Together Board, said “Despite a pandemic, we have made tremendous progress on the Knowsley 2030 Strategy by attracting more residents, businesses and visitors into the Borough.
“The pandemic has really showcased the importance of Knowsley Better Together, with our partners and communities coming together to support one another.
“We will now build on these achievements to further progress our Knowsley 2030 Strategy and drive forward further improvements for the benefit of Knowsley and our communities.”