About Us

About Us

The Area

Breckland District covers an area of 1,305sq kilometres and is one the largest rural districts in England. Nestled on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and covering much of the south, west and central parts of Norfolk, Breckland is centred round the five market towns of Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton. The largest of these is Thetford with a population of over 21,000 and the smallest Watton with a population of just over 6,000.There are 107 Parish Councils, some covering more than one parish and more than two thirds of these have fewer than 500 residents. The area is one of the most rurally sparse in the country, which sets particular challenges in terms of service delivery and demands on resources.

The Community

Breckland is one of the fastest growing areas in England; the population is 128,300 (according to the latest population figures) and is estimated to have grown by more than 12% since 1991, compared with a national average of 2.5%. Growth is predicted to increase by a further 4.9% by 2012. There is a growing number of residents moving to the District mainly from Europe which is not reflected in census data. Breckland has successfully promoted community cohesion but is also campaigning for more funding from central government to invest in services to meet this increased demand.

Retail, distribution, catering, farming and manufacturing are key economic activities. Although unemployment is relatively low, below 2% for much of the last decade, some of these employment sectors are in decline. Some of the wards are the most deprived in the region, and there is a relatively large proportion of young people particularly in Thetford entering the job market. To respond to these trends the Council’s regeneration and economic development activity has a focus on attracting high value technology and skilled employment opportunities.

What we aim to achieve for the Community

Our Vision is to make Breckland ‘A Better Place with a Brighter Future'

To help us deliver this vision we have consulted widely with local people and our partners and listened carefully to what was said.

The Council will help make Breckland a better place with a brighter future by enhancing and improving the wealth, well-being and quality of life of people who live and work in the district by focusing on five key themes:

Building Safer and Stronger Communities

Ensuring that communities are safe, secure, integrated with fairness and with equality of opportunity for all

Prosperous Communities

Healthy, prosperous and sustainable communities

Environment

Our green agenda

Delivering the Entrepreneurial Council

To recognise the full earning potential of the council and ensure value for money

Your Council, Your Services

To tailor services to customer needs

Values and Responsibilities

 

Our values

We recognise that the way we deliver services is vitally important and will strive to uphold the following values: we will aim to be;

 

Accessible - Listening and responding to the needs of local people

Accountable - Accepting responsibility for and explaining our decisions

Democratic - Taking decisions in the public interest

Equality - Ensuring that everyone is treated equally and with dignity

Equitable - Being fair in dealing with people and making decisions

Ethical - Behaving with integrity

Open - Telling people about what the Council does

Sustainable - Minimising any adverse effects of our actions