Supporting people and communities - Annual Plan 2023-2024

Annual Plan 2023-2024

Help people through the cost of living crisis.
- Extend funding to Citizens Advice to enable them to help residents access unclaimed benefits.
  Action completed
- Hold a cost of living summit to identify further ways in which we can work with partners to support residents who are struggling financially.
  Action completed
- Continue to financially support Horsham Matters with the foodbank.
  Action completed
- Operate a cost of living grant to facilitate the provision of warm spaces and other direct cost of living support to residents.
  Action completed
Better understand the needs of our whole community to deliver services that support people to live long, active lives.
- Open the new Horsham Wellbeing Hub and extend its reach to all in our communities.
  Action completed
- Investigate the demography of the District to allow us to enable improved health outcomes.
  Action not yet complete
  Extended into 24/25 plan to allow for staff changes.
- Initiate conversations with partners to better understand the needs of older residents in Horsham District.
  Action completed
- Issue £1.3million Disabled Facilities and Home Repair Assistance grants to help people live in their own homes.
  Action completed
Improve access to affordable housing and community services.
- Deliver new affordable housing units on council land at Duke’s Square and London Road through Horsham District Homes.
  Action not yet complete
  Duke’s Square requires a water neutrality statement for planning. London Road design being reviewed.
- Work with Registered Provider partners to identify and secure alternative temporary accommodation, reducing reliance on bed and breakfast.
  Action completed
- Seek out and use grant funding from the Government and West Sussex County Council to provide more accommodation for homeless people.
  Action completed
- Enable residents to access private sector housing through the provision of affordable housing deposits.
  Action completed
- Deliver housing for refugees using the Local Authority Housing Fund grant together with a matched financial contribution from the Council.
  Action completed
Build closer ties with all our housing partners.
- Explore options with Saxon Weald to increase provision of larger properties in the District.
  Action completed
Improve vulnerable residents’ access to benefits.
- Implement the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to enable residents to access over £0.5million of unclaimed benefits in Horsham District.
  Action completed
Work with partners to ensure our District continues to be a safe place to live and work.
- Improve the ability to report crimes, such as anti-social behaviour and shoplifting through the roll-out of the DISC app.
  Action completed
Create safe spaces for our children to grow and play.
- Provide new children’s play facilities at Roffey Recreation Ground, North Horsham and Holbrook East.
  Action not yet complete
  Roffey Recreation Ground completed May 2024.
  North Horsham completed.
  Holbrook East started May 2024.
Invest in local arts and leisure and foster civic pride.
- Approve a five-year plan for Horsham Museum ensuring better engagement with the community about the District’s heritage.
  Action not yet complete
  5 year plan drafted, to be approved Summer 2024.
- Deliver improvements to the Horsham Riverside Walk in collaboration with local stakeholders.
  Action completed
- Agree the investment plan to ensure the decarbonisation and refurbishment of The Capitol theatre.
  Action completed
Improve access to sports for under-represented groups.
- Explore ways to overcome financial barriers to participation in sport.
  Action completed