The vision for Surrey
Surrey is a great county that benefits from the beauty and richness of its natural and built heritage, the diversity of its landscape, the distinctiveness of its communities and the strength of its economy. The vision for Surrey is one that will safeguard and enhance these strengths and improve the quality of life for people living and working in Surrey by addressing social, economic and environmental well-being and sustainability.
The vision for Surrey in 2020 is a county of distinctive, confident, caring, creative, and safe communities, where individuals and organisations have taken responsibility for resolving the many challenges that the county faces.
The process and the purpose
The vision for Surrey in 2020 has been shaped following extensive consultation with the public and organisations in Surrey. It is intended to offer a common sense of direction from the Surrey Strategic Partnership to the organisations represented on it, and other public service, voluntary and business organisations and the public themselves. Key to achieving the vision by 2020 will be the attitudes and behaviours of individuals and organisations, the acceptance of the need to change and the degree to which public service, voluntary and business organisations provide leadership and co-operate effectively.
What is meant by ‘distinctive, confident, caring, creative, and safe communities’?:
A distinctive Surrey means:
A county that recognises the value of the diversity and distinctive character of the three main areas that make up Surrey: the places that border London such as Spelthorne, Runnymede, Elmbridge and Epsom and Ewell; the towns such as Guildford, Woking, and Reigate; and the more rural parts such as Tandridge, Mole Valley, Waverley and Surrey Heath. It is the different natures, characteristics, lifestyles, cultures and aspirations of these areas that make it such a complex and interesting web of communities.
A confident Surrey means:
A population that builds on their achievements and that fosters a capable and self-reliant attitude to life. A population that is also prepared to take a positive and active approach to improving their lives, supporting an approach to education and learning that helps individuals achieve their full potential. A confident Surrey is also one where our communities are enabled to seek their own solutions to the many challenges our county faces.
A caring Surrey means:
A county where people are concerned about the well-being of the community as a whole, ensuring that vulnerable and less privileged individuals are supported and that the rights of minority groups are respected. A county where people value and protect their environment and their heritage, and care about the Surrey they are leaving for future generations.
A creative Surrey means:
A place that continues Surrey’s long tradition of being at the forefront of new ideas and innovation, with residents that appreciate the value of the arts and all aspects of our culture and economy.
A safe Surrey means:
A place that remains very safe, where people feel secure and confident and where individuals and communities actively keep the peace and are involved in securing in the future.
