2.3 Regional Goals
- 2.3.1 Environmental, Social and Economic Goals
- 2.3.2 Integration of Environmental, Social and Economic Factors to Achieve Sustainable Development.
- 2.3.3 Drivers for Change
2.3.1 Environmental, Social and Economic Goals
To secure the regional aspirations, the regional partnership has agreed to work together to achieve the following goals:-
| Environment En 1 A sustainable environment through the wise use of natural and cultural resources. En 2 A high quality countryside with diverse and characteristic landscapes, increased biodiversity and sustainable management of soil and water. En 3 A more appreciated and valued environment. Social S 1 Develop a culture for and infrastructure to support lifelong learning opportunities. S 2 Create balanced, empowered, inclusive communities. S 3 Provision of integrated transport. S 4 Fair and equitable access to services. Economic Ec 1 Stronger, more competitive and integrated regional economy. Ec 2 Create and develop market opportunities. Ec 3 Highly skilled and flexible workforce. Ec 4 More effective infrastructure. |
2.3.2 Integration of Environmental, Social and Economic Factors to Achieve Sustainable Development.
"Advancing Together : Into the Millennium" provides the single vision and strategic framework for the region and is the high level agenda for change signed up to and being taken forward by the Regional Chamber for Yorkshire and Humberside, comprising the region's 22 local authorities and key stakeholders. Its agreed vision for the region is:-
"A world class region where the economic, environmental and social well-being of all our people is advancing more rapidly and more sustainably than our competitors."
This is based upon 5 high level strategic objectives:
- An Advanced Economy
- Robust Infrastructure
- Sustainable Environments
- A Skilled and Flexible Workforce
- Enhanced Life Quality for All
This strategic framework is the starting point for all strategies across the region. This includes Regional Planning Guidance and the Regional Economic Strategy.
Regional Planning Guidance is based upon this vision and these objectives and incorporates 4 cross cutting themes and 33 policies for the region which are currently under consultation. The four themes are as follows:
- economic regeneration and growth
- conserving and enhancing social capital
- urban and rural renaissance
- conserving and enhancing natural resources
The Regional Economic Strategy is designed to meet the strategic objective to achieve an advanced economy. It is based upon a ten year framework to transform the regional economy in urban and rural areas. The objectives for the region are to:
- grow the region's businesses
- achieve higher business birth and survival rates
- attract and retain more investment
- radically improve the development and application of education, learning and skills
- implement targeted community-based regeneration programmes
- get the best out of the region's physical assets and conserve and enhance its environmental assets.
The Rural Development Regulation Plan is consistent and builds upon this approach, defining its strategy from the strategic framework "Advancing Together" and the other work of the Regional Assembly, Regional Chamber and Yorkshire Forward, particularly Draft Regional Planning Guidance and the Regional Economic Strategy.
2.3.3 Drivers for Change
The goals affirm the regional partners' desire to redress the intra-regional rural disparities that have been demonstrated through the regional analysis. The goals give recognition to the principal drivers for change:
Environmental - the value of the region's environmental assets have been eroded and now need to be secured and enhanced through various processes including the adoption of more environmentally friendly farming. Key environmental drivers include: the need to avoid pollution and unnecessary wastes, improve management of natural, cultural and heritage resources, increase biodiversity, strengthen landscapes and cultural assets and raise awareness of the links between the environment, social and economic needs.
Social - The key social drivers for change include rising aspirations within the indigenous community for leisure opportunities and rural service provision and the desire to develop a more inclusive rural society that engages fully with urban dwellers, who increasingly value the countryside as a recreational resource for the region's social goals.
Economic - A range of economic drivers are impacting on agricultural and rural businesses including: an increasingly competitive world market; more demanding buyers for food; consumer concerns about food quality and safety; and the use of ICT and e-commerce. Together these are contributing to significant structural change in both the primary industry and up and down-stream businesses associated with agriculture. The region's businesses present the opportunity to produce added value goods and services from within rural communities. Notably, market towns will be seriously affected by agricultural change. The increasing interest and potential of the countryside as a tourist and recreation resource is also fully recognised.
The partners recognise that in order to secure their desired aim of sustainable rural development, the delivery of activity to achieve the environmental, social and economic goals must be taken forward in an integrated manner. For example, investing in environmental and cultural assets which impact on local distinctiveness is important in terms of obtaining the economic benefits of tourism, business diversification, and agricultural production.
A joint sustainability appraisal of the Regional Economic Strategy and Regional Planning Guidance, has strengthened the environmental and social elements of these frameworks and ensured that integrated sustainable development is taken into account. This issue is considered in more detail in the National Chapter.
Page last modified:
17 August, 2005
Page published: 1 October, 2000