Dr Dan Poulter was delighted to meet Steve Gallant, Conservative Councillor for the Eastern Felixstowe ward and Leader of East Suffolk Council while attending the East Suffolk Community Partnership Annual Forum.
Dr Poulter said a few words, prior to the keynote speech, thanking everyone for all their hard work for the Partnership and warmly praised Steve Gallant on his commitment and delivery of the East Suffolk Community Partnerships. As Councillor Gallant approaches retirement, Dr Poulter reflected on what will become an extraordinary legacy that will go on improving many people’s lives. Steve has taken Community Partnerships forward; it is something he has championed very successfully.
Community Partnerships are designed to proactively make things better for local people by various groups working together on local priorities. Eight Community Partnerships operate across East Suffolk, based on natural groupings of communities and using the East Suffolk Council ward boundaries as markers to work from. They are fairly informal and meet for workshops and networking events in community buildings and village halls around the district and often they have additional, small multiagency working groups solving specific issues affecting their area.
East Suffolk Council is geographically one of the largest local authorities in England with large rural areas and a population of circa 250,000, a considerable proportion of which is over 65 years old. Social isolation, mental health and the retention of young people in Suffolk through better economic opportunities were among the topics of most importance in the keynote speech at today’s Forum, delivered by Anna Crispe, Head of Knowledge and Intelligence, Suffolk County Council.
Speaking after the event, Dr Poulter said, ‘The statistical data provided in the keynote speech today was impressive and should really help local authorities tailor their approaches and services to make a considerable and positive difference to the lives of people in East Suffolk. It feels as though communities have come together to voice their concerns and been heard.’
