A new set of targets each designed to make the Isle of Wight a better place to live and work have been agreed.

The targets are set out in the Island’s Local Area Agreement a document outlining a set of priorities agreed by Government and the partners who make up the Island Strategic Partnership including the police, the NHS Primary Care Trust, the IW Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry and the Rural Community Council.

The Island is one of the first areas to agree its LAA that cover all walks of Island life and correspond with the aims of Eco Island: to create a thriving, inspiring, healthy and supportive and safe and well-kept Island.

Among the targets are commitments to increase the number of people achieving a level 3 qualification by the age of 19, reduce the number of 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and increase the number of pupils achieving A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and Maths.

Other goals are to increase adult participation in sport and active recreation, reduce obesity in primary school age children, reduce the under-18 conception rate, increase the number of people stopping smoking, reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents, increase the number of affordable homes delivered and to reduce the number of residents living in temporary accommodation.

Another key aim is to create an environment for a thriving third sector.

Further aspirations include reducing the number of first time entrants to the Youth Justice System aged 10-17 and reducing substance misuse by young people.

Among targets to help the environment include reducing the percentage of municipal waste going to landfill and the amount of household waste and increasing the number of people using public transport.

The targets have been agreed to be both challenging but obtainable. Performance against the targets will be monitored regularly and reported on to the members of the Island Strategic Partnership, their relative organisations and residents of the Island.

IW Council leader and chairman of the ISP, Cllr David Pugh, said:

“These targets are important because they reflect our aspirations to make a real positive difference to the lives of people on the Island. Our success in reaching the targets will be reflected, we hope, in tangible benefits to the lives of Island residents”.

“One particularly positive thing about the Local Area Agreement targets is that they encourage and re-enforce partnership working and it is through such close relationships that we will be able to make a difference across all aspects of Island life. We are working from a strong base because our partnerships are already strong.”

Margaret Pratt, Interim Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, said: 

“This exercise demonstrates clearly how well Island services are working together.

“Achieving these challenging targets is not an end in itself – doing so will make measurable and sustainable improvements to health and wellbeing of people on the Island.  We in the local NHS have already begun to tackling this vital agenda with our partners and that work will continue with vigour.”

Isle of Wight Police Chief Superintendent Dave Thomas said: 

“One of the key aspects of the Island agreement is that it focuses on many of the causes of crime and not just the offences themselves.

“In this way the Island Strategic Partnership will be able to make lasting improvements to the life and safety of the community.”