Sustainable Bancroft

The Town of Bancroft will develop an integrated community sustainability plan (ICSP) to set the direction for current and future decision making and reduce the ecological footprint of the town and surrounding region. The ICSP will have a regional focus and will provide a starting point for work with neighbouring municipalities on regional issues such as transportation, housing and cultural planning. The Bancroft sustainability committee will oversee the development and implementation of the plan. The methodology will combine the adaptive management framework approach used in Kingston, Ontario, with the Natural Step Framework. A community consultation will be held to identify current actions and gaps and develop an overall vision. Stakeholder task forces will create theme statements for 16 themes that cover the four pillars of sustainability (cultural, environmental, economic and social). The planning team will define strategic objectives, actions and targets for each theme. Once the draft ICSP is approved by town council, the sustainability committee will launch it at a community conference. Through questionnaires, brochures, information pieces, workshops, meetings and an online website, the town will collect input from permanent and seasonal residents. After revising the ICSP, the town will then hold a second community consultation and a series of stakeholder meetings to gather further input. The final ICSP will be approved by town council in October 2010. For each of the 16 identified themes, it will feature theme statements, strategic objectives, potential initiatives, actions and targets. The ICSP will also include a plan for community ownership and a governance plan. The monitoring system will include monthly reports to town council. The town will hold an annual sustainability conference to keep the public involved.

(Project description from original funding application)