Strong and confident Bolton

A strong and confident Bolton will continue to be a place where people from different backgrounds get along well together.

It will be a place where people from all parts of the ‘Bolton Family’ will play a bigger part in their community, so they feel able to take part in shaping services to improve their area. Our vibrant, harmonious communities will be a cornerstone for future growth and development.

You said:

• affordable, decent housing is crucial to making Bolton a better place to live
• it is important that Bolton is seen as a friendly and welcoming place
• good relations between Bolton’s communities is a real strength.

We will:

create housing that meets Bolton’s needs

The number of privately-owned empty houses will be reduced, while more decent, affordable homes will become available. 650 new homes a year will be built in Bolton, 80 of which will be affordable for people on low incomes. We will:

• increase the number of private homes that meet decency standards which are occupied by vulnerable people from 58% in 2006 to 70% by 2010, 73% by 2012 and 75% by 2017.

further reduce homelessness

We will prevent and reduce homelessness, meeting individuals’ needs and supporting more people into settled homes. We will:

• maintain the reduction in the numbers of people who are accepted as homeless within Bolton more than once within the last two years, at a minimum level, to less than 2.5% of households, from 1.8% in 2006, maintaining it at 1.8% in 2010, 1.5% in 2012 and 1.2 % by 2017.

encourage everyone to become more active in their community

This means making it easier for everyone to get involved in decisionmaking, volunteering and playing a full part in the local community. We will:

• increase the number of people who feel they have made a difference to Bolton through voluntary work or by getting involved in their local community from 35% in 2006/2007 to 37% by 2010, 40% by 2012 and 45% by 2017.

ensure we all live in harmony

Community, voluntary and faith groups will continue to play an important role, further strengthening relations between established and new communities. We will:

• raise the percentage of local people who feel that people from different backgrounds in their area get along well together from 72% in 2006/2007 to 74% in 2010, 76% in 2012 and 80% in 2017.

support more people to enjoy cultural activities

We will support everyone in Bolton to enjoy cultural facilities and activities. We will:

• increase the number of local people who have used and benefited from cultural services (baseline and targets to be confirmed).