Have a vision for your town that is long term (e.g. at least 10 years) and put a strategy in place to help you achieve that vision.
Make your strategy a comprehensive and holistic one that integrates social, economic and environmental aspects. (Your town will likely have an emphasis on a particular aspect, but you should still look at all three). Aim to make our town more diverse and more self-sufficient.
Create opportunities for your town’s community to become truly involved in the vision and strategy and to ‘buy in’ to the delivery process, especially the younger generation (but do not exhaust them!).
Know :
a) where you are
b) where you are going to
c) how you are going to get there
d) how you will know when you have arrived.
Make sure that your municipality is a committed champion, or at least a partner in the process.
Create a mechanism, such as an ‘umbrella forum’ or partnership, to act as the co-ordinating body (note that a dedicated co-ordinator can be an effective resource to assist this body and drive the strategy). Include wide representation from all key sectors in the town.
Form specific ‘short to medium term’ action plans that take you towards the town’s vision. Each time, include ‘quick wins’.
Put a sound management system in place. Regularly monitor your progress, evaluate your impact and review your position.
Use your vision, strategy and action plan(s) to attract resources (not the other way around). Be creative in forming different funding package solutions.
Be firm and determined to realise the vision, but still be flexible enough to remain responsive to whatever the future holds.
Be outward looking and work in co-operation with other towns to mutual benefit.
Be alert to change - “always keep your eye on the ball”. Play to your strengths, work on weaknesses, seize your opportunities and deal with your threats.
