Together, for our Future summary

To embed the findings of this work into Norfolk County Council working practice and strategy development, we have looked at work that is already happening under each theme, and where we could potentially boost this further to future proof council services.

Environment and infrastructure

Climate change and poor infrastructure are key risks to sustaining and growing the Norfolk economy over the next 20 years.

In April 2019, Norfolk County Council passed a motion recognising the serious impact around climate change and environmental degradation, and the need for urgent action. The Council committed to respond to the challenges presented in DEFRA's 'A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to improve the Environment', in addition to the responding the emerging views on global warming presented by the United Nations.

This resulted in the formal adoption of a new Environmental Policy at Full Council in November 2019, which committed the Council to achieving net zero carbon emissions on its estates by 2030 and working towards 'carbon neutrality' across the county by the same date.

Opportunities exist for greater partnership working to address climate change, within the local authority family and the wider public sector. This could build on existing structures such as the Norfolk Resilience Forum and Norfolk Waste Partnership, The Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk provides a whole-County view of required infrastructure. Future iterations of the strategy need to ensure it is aligned to future needs.

What we need to do, together

We need to pursue a County wide approach to our environmental resilience and agree a combined position for infrastructure investment.  If done in isolation, this will lead to poor outcomes for the most vulnerable members of our society.

Future of society

In Norfolk, key risks affecting societal cohesion in the future are: changing demographics, the rural/urban divide and inequality of opportunities for its residents. To mitigate for this, the Council is aiming to put social inclusion at the heart of everything it does.

Norfolk County Council's 6 year-business plan, Together, for Norfolk, and the local authority coalition on inclusive growth focuses on opening up opportunity for all.

Together, for Norfolk, sets out a clear ambition; for our County to be a place where we all have the chance to contribute to and benefit from economic growth and regeneration and where any of us can access the education we want, develop the skills we need and gain the employment we seek.

The focus on Inclusive Growth brings together our wish to strengthen and grow the economy, taking into account not only economic prosperity, but also a wider set of objectives that benefit society as a whole - such as health and wellbeing, inclusion and equality, environmental resilience and affordable and connected places.

By working closely together with the Chief Executives and Leaders of all of Norfolk's Councils, and other key partners, we will ensure a more joined up agenda across councils, communities, employers and professions with a shared vision to improve social mobility.

Emerging Inclusive Growth themes and priorities have included improving educational attainment, employment opportunities and career pathways, adult skills, widening participation in higher education, affordable housing, social value procurement, and connectivity. Norfolk's prioritisation of inclusive growth and the collaborative approach to address the issues, puts it in the vanguard of shire counties, as most work is currently being conducted in metropolitan areas.

We also need to engage more proactively with other areas with similar challenges. This will strengthen our voice in central government through mechanisms such as the fair funding review and through organisations like the Local Government Association, the County Council Network and the Rural Services Network.

What we need to do, together

Collectively, we need to act on the most pressing challenges and aim to increase the life chances of our residents so that all may enjoy equality of opportunity.

We need to create a new 'rural deal', or large parts of the County may become unproductive and unliveable except to the richest in our society.

Jobs, industry and technology

The County needs a joint effort on how to respond to future technology and how our residents and workforces upskill to meet the future need. Norfolk County Council's Information Management Team is leading the development of a 10-year technology roadmap for the Council. We face big challenges and potential opportunities from advances in technology, such as increased automation and digitisation of services, the rise of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. A technology roadmap offers Norfolk a chance to embrace the opportunities that digital, data and technology bring and will act as an enabler to doing things differently, delivering more efficient services and improving outcomes for citizens.

A technology roadmap is a document that outlines how an organisation plans to reach short-term and long-term goals through technological solutions. It maps out the technology that an organisation currently has and what technology they will need in the future. A technology roadmap will help Norfolk County Council understand how technology will support its corporate strategy. It will document the strategic direction we wish to take and coherently describe the technology required to deliver our services. It will allow us to align better with our strategic partners, to the benefit of Norfolk citizens. And, finally, it allows us to be prepared for the speed at which the emerging technology landscape changes by continually refreshing and reviewing the roadmap, in collaboration with our strategic partners.

What we need to do, together

Investment in technology such as IoT, autonomous vehicles and ubiquitous high speed broadband will enable people to live in our villages and towns but still contribute to the emerging economies, and encourage our young people to stay.

Investment in our workforce will mean people have the right skills for emerging jobs. Technology can automate repetitive and dangerous jobs and boost productivity, but learning new skills is key if people are to adapt. The education sector will need to work closely with business to provide the skills of the future.

Community empowerment

Norfolk County Council needs to continue to invest in community cohesion and empowerment to ensure that the fabric of communities is strengthened, reducing demand for council services. Building on existing work the Council has set up a capital fund to invest in social infrastructure and will be inviting applications from the voluntary sector.

In addition, Norfolk County Council is developing a Prevention and a Communities Strategy. Both will set out innovations as to how to strengthen and empower communities to help keep older people at home for longer, enjoying a greater quality of life.

Lastly, Norfolk County Council is co-investing with partners in developing a single information, advice and guidance service to ensure that people find community activities easy to find and access.

Norfolk County Council will examine the best way to work with, engage and consult the people of Norfolk.

What we need to do, together

With increasing interest in local decision making by residents, there are actions we can take together to empower communities, and actions local communities can take to empower themselves.