Vision for Kent - Future Challenges

Partners in Kent identified 7 future challenges that they believe are the key issues facing the county over the next 20 years, and can only be tackled by working in partnership. These challenges are priority areas of work for the Kent Partnership.

The Growth Agenda

Kent faces enormous pressure in the numbers of houses it will have to accommodate to meet government targets. The growth areas in Ashford and Thames Gateway, as well as the ongoing growth in housing across the rest of Kent will have a significant impact on the county. As well as new growth we have areas that are in need of regeneration, in particular our coastal towns, a major asset yet to reach their full potential.

• How do we deliver the essential infrastructure to support sustainable development?
• How do we reconcile our ambitions for growth, a better quality of life and a high quality environment?
• And how do we ensure that new communities are integrated with existing ones?

Economic Change

Kent currently has low employment growth, low household income and high deprivation compare to the rest of the south east. How do we utilise our unique proximity to London and continental Europe? How should we respond to economic change and globalisation? How do we persuade new businesses to invest in Kent and develop home grown enterprise? How do we attract the right people with the right skills for the jobs in Kent and help people reach their full potential? How do we raise Kent's economic performance in line with the rest of the south east without further degrading our environment? And how do we deal with trade in the rest of Europe and beyond and make the most of the opportunities for Kent's residents?

Environmental and Climatic Change

Kent's unique countryside, coast, natural resources and wildlife remain among its most prized assets, but all face considerable pressure from pollution, development and particularly climate change. The scientific consensus that climate change is happening is supported by Kent's recent experience of extreme weather. What are the implications of rising sea level for our coastal county? What are the threats to our economy, communities and wildlife of droughts, floods and more extreme weather? And how can we reduce Kent's contribution to climate change while preparing for those seemingly inevitable impacts?

An Ageing Population

Demographic trends show that our population is getting older and living longer, while fewer people are having children. Many older people will want to work longer than the current retirement age. Many provide invaluable services through volunteering and helping out in their local communities. Will older people want to re skill? How can we tap into the wealth of skills and knowledge possessed by an ageing population? How can we extend leisure facilities for life? How can we ensure access to continued learning for older people? Will the working age need to be extended? How will pensions be funded in the future? What will be the extra costs of care, support and maintaining independence?

Diversity and Choice

Kent has many distinct and diverse communities, both of interest and of place. We need to encourage cohesive communities and ones that are able to deal with change. People also want to have some control over the way services are delivered, which can vary depending on the area in which they live. There is a drive for personalisation and choice. How can we develop strong and active communities and tackle inequalities while maintaining Kent's diversity? How can we provide the right services to the right people in a way that gives them some control? And how can we build communities that are stable while accommodating rapid cultural, social, economic and environmental change?

Engaging Communities

Increasing the public's involvement in decision making and devolving power to individuals and local organisations is increasingly important. How can we better understand and reflect what the people of Kent need to improve their quality of life? How can we strike a balance between their competing demands? How can we deliver services and information to people at the most appropriate level and in the most efficient way? And how can we empower people to take an active part in local democracy, in decision making and in supporting their own communities? How can we build capacity within communities to engage in local decision making?

Promoting Independence

There is an established partnership approach to making a real difference to poorer communities in Kent. It works in the most disadvantaged localities and with the most disadvantaged groups in the population by building bespoke approaches to tackling the issues that lead to those people living lives of dependency. How can we ensure that people with a range of disadvantages are supported to lead fulfilled and independent lives and contribute to their communities? How can we best give individuals control and power over the support they receive from a wide range of agencies? How can we best support people with disabilities in a way that puts the onus on society to ensure that it is not unwittingly excluding people?