'GREENER, fairer and more local' are the key aims laid out in an updated blueprint document for South Lakeland that has been unveiled by councillors.

Proposals to strengthen environmental ambitions to be a ‘greener’ council, extend kerbside recycling of plastics and cardboard, further promote cycling and help the regeneration of town centres with support for festivals and events have all been earmarked as a priorities in the new version of South Lakeland District Council’s Council Plan, which was approved for consultation by cabinet members today.

The Council Plan also emphasises the council’s ongoing commitment to its overall targets of enabling 1000 new jobs and 1000 affordable rented homes by 2025, and how it will continue to deliver sustainable and cost-effective services.

SLDC's leader, Councillor Peter Thornton, said: “This is the greenest Council Plan we have ever produced.

“There are many things that remain consistent in our plan for 2015, such as our commitments to enabling employment and affordable housing. We still want to be greener, fairer and more local and these ambitions are emphasised throughout the plan."

Chief Executive of South Lakeland District Council, Lawrence Conway, said: “The plan sets out a vision that each of us can recognise and buy into. A place with a prosperous future, that everyone can share in and that everyone feels part of."

The broad aims of the five-year Council Plan are to:

• Enable and deliver opportunities for economic growth

• Provide homes to meet need

• Improve residents’ health and wellbeing

• Protect the environment

On the economy the council will look to support the development of higher paid jobs in South Lakeland by enabling growth and working in partnership with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and local businesses.

The council will help to deliver new employment sites and will promote inward investment into the district. It will work with local traders and town and parish councils to create plans that set out the vision for our towns over the next 10 years to help secure their future, and deliver plans to help address issues of empty shops and empty properties above shops.

The council will also continue with the strategic review of SLDC-controlled car parks, to increase the economic benefits in the towns across the district and investigate options for a coach parking facility in Kendal.

On the issue of housing the council will enable delivery of new affordable and open market housing through private sector led developments across the district, and will continue to work with private housing developers to deliver new market and affordable homes on allocated housing sites.

The council will review and update environmental standards that help people to improve their homes and help builders to build environmentally sustainable new homes.

The quality and condition of private sector housing will be improved and the number of empty homes will be reduced and the council will promote the landlord accreditation scheme to help raise the standard of privately rented homes.

SLDC will continue to lobby government to challenge high levels of second homes in some areas of the district, will help householders with advice about energy saving initiatives and will work with its partners to reduce homelessness.

The council is committed to protecting and enhancing our environment and will extend the range of recycled materials collected from the kerbside, will reduce carbon emissions by reducing its energy use through the management of land and buildings and will encourage others to reduce their carbon footprint.

The council will support communities to become more energy efficient and will support Cumbria County Council and local partners on their strategies for cycling, such as developing safer routes to work and school and promoting cycle tourism.

SLDC will also work with local communities to improve and manage parks and open spaces and will continue to improve and enhance facilities for lake users on Windermere.

The council has a commitment to improve health and reduce health inequalities in South Lakeland and through its health and wellbeing strategy will work with North Country Leisure to improve health, wellbeing and physical activity programmes that are accessible to all residents and visitors.

Through the South Lakeland Health and Wellbeing Forum the council will develop relationships with key public health and third sector providers to enable a more joined-up approach to initiatives linking good housing, environment and economic growth.

The council will work with partners to reduce the numbers of people affected by domestic violence, substance misuse and antisocial behaviour through its Community Safety Partnership work.

The council will build on the district’s cultural reputation as a place for nationally recognised arts, events and festivals, working to attract more activities that strengthen the district’s visitor economy and the health and wellbeing of residents.