Our Strategic Plan 2020-2023 sets out how the council will address the key challenges facing the city through five themes.
The plan sets out the key goals by which success will be measured moving forward. This year, under these five areas, we have achieved the following:
Delivering homes for people who need them
- Continued to build new homes – but no more than we need. We are on track to deliver 880 new homes in 2022/2023 which is close to the Government’s target for our area of 920
- Delivered 80 affordable homes through Registered Provider developments, Acquisition programme and Council new build properties from April 2022 to the end of December 2022.
- Seen the first homes built by our council company, Amphora Homes, to be sold on the open market and the delivery of 30 per cent affordable homes through Amphora Homes schemes.
- Work is underway to build the Leisure Park at Northern Gateway, a mix of community facilities, leisure and homes.
- Prevented homelessness for 163 households and supported 70 households into accommodation between April 2022 to the end of December 2022.
Tackling the climate challenge and leading sustainability
- Reduced the council’s direct carbon footprint by 10.1% (662.1 tonnes of CO2e) since our climate emergency declaration and we remain on track to be net zero by 2030.
- Now have 15 electric and hybrid vehicles as part of our drive towards a fully electric fleet by 2030.
- We have 7 electric vehicle charging points in council-owned car parks.
- Launched an all-electric Car Club to boost sustainable transport options for residents.
- Worked with Essex University on a project that uses Colchester oyster shells as a natural coastal defence and exhibited it at COP27 UN Climate change talks.
- Planted 14,000 trees and given away 15,000 trees/shrubs across the city as part of the Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project to help our wildlife and our environment.
- Making our air cleaner by continuing our CARless no-idling campaign, E-cargo bike project and support of the Bikeabilty scheme.
Creating safe, healthy and active communities
- Work with a range of partners to support residents through the cost of living crisis and ensure residents and businesses have information on grants and help and support available.
- Thousands of volunteers engaged and supporting communities by working with a wide range of organisations called the One Colchester partnership.
- Work with organisations including the Police and the One Colchester partnership to make sure the city centre is safe and welcoming during the day and night.
- Continuing to support refugees and those seeking asylum homed in Colchester, as a City of Sanctuary.
Growing a fair economy so everyone benefits
- Made sure support and information was in place for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
- Delivered a wide range of events and initiatives to help celebrate Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee that stimulated the local economy.
- Became a modern day city on 23 November 2022.
- Ran the Future of Colchester survey to develop a three year plan to make the most of Colchester’s modern city for the benefit of all residents, including young people.
- Continue to deliver the Town Deal projects to improve the lives of residents and support businesses.
- Secured £19.66m funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to help tackle inequality, regenerate the St Botolph’s area and boost the local economy, in partnership with Essex County Council.
Celebrating our heritage and culture
- Hosted a stage of the prestigious Women’s Tour in June 2022.
- Supported 25 organisations organising cultural and creative events across the city through our Cultural and Creative Events Fund.
- Invested in our Roman heritage, including new interpretation boards and committing to host a major exhibition in July 2023 ‘Gladiators: A Day at the Roman Games’ at Colchester Castle.
- Committed to improve the Natural History Museum over the next few years by listening to residents and visitors feedback and ideas.