Kingston Council has launched a five-year strategic plan outlining its 'commitment' to making the royal borough 'greener, fairer, safer, together'.

Developed with input from local organisations and residents alongside elected members and council officers, the Council Plan sets out the local authority's 'vision and priorities' between 2023 and 2027.

By 2027, Kingston Council's aim is to strengthen the borough, making it 'greener, fairer, safer, together'.

With regards to the 'greener' pledge, the authority has identified a focus on sustainable transport and air quality, as well as waste reduction, recycling and reuse and energy and carbon reduction.

Supporting the younger generation in the borough has been targeted by Kingston Council as a key factor in achieving the 'fairer' pledge by 2027. It has promised an increase in creative opportunities, improved care and support and a stronger promotion of health and wellbeing.

Kingston residents are still waiting on an update from the council on when they can expect to see the Kingfisher Leisure Centre replacement delivered, after already seeing its timeframe delayed twice (Credit: Nub News)

The authority claims the borough will become 'safer' by 2027 through a stronger collaborative effort with residents, communities and local organisations and improving its support for families through a person-centred approach.

Togetherness is the fourth and final category Kingston Council has prioritised within its strategic plan. With the current cost of living crisis, the authority has pledged further support to borough-wide businesses which it hopes will also encourage new enterprise.

With this approach, the council claims by 2027 the borough will benefit from a 'stronger, resilient, competitive local economy that enables sustainable employment opportunities and fairer income'.

Commenting on the council plan, leader of Kingston Council, Andreas Kirsch, said: "This plan was formed by feedback from our many communities, partners, councillors and officers - a huge thank you once again to everyone involved.

 "The cost of living crisis, inflation and unprecedented energy price rises are affecting many of our residents and businesses. This is increasing demand on our services, driving up our costs and resulting in significant financial challenges. This shows we are fully committed to doing what we can to tackle the challenging economic and environmental conditions that we are working in.

"Our Council Plan is more than a document – it is a vision and commitment of what we can do together to make Kingston greener, fairer and safer – to build on our successes and overcome challenges together, to deliver our shared ambitions for everyone in the borough."

Looking after public spaces is a key aspect of the council's plan, including Kingston's Memorial Gardens which has suffered from neglect in the past (Lynne Finnerty)

Kingston Council has said partnerships with borough communities and organisations will be crucial in achieving its aims throughout the next four years.

It has also promised to engage with staff across the borough to identify how it can best support them with an overall focus of creating a 'positive work culture of shared ownership, accountability and continuous learning where everyone is valued and appreciated'.

For further information on Kingston's Council Plan for 2023 through to 2027, visit the link HERE