Cumberland Council Pleased With Progress Of 2023-2027 Strategic Plan

A year into its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, Cumberland Council says it's happy with progress so far.

The plan was developed after the 2022 election, outlining three strategic areas of focus to guide the Village over the next four years: a Diverse and Healthy Community; Sustainable Service Delivery and Asset Management; and Community Planning.

“We are continuously working towards the goals outlined in our Strategic Priorities, along with emerging issues that arise” says Mayor Vickey Brown.

“Council and staff worked hard to develop these goals and ensure there was staff capacity to reach them, and we are proud of what we’ve achieved in our first year. I am impressed with the community engagement on the transportation plan which includes active travel planning, and the fantastic work our planning department has done to smooth and modernize our development processes. I’m excited to move forward on the next pieces of the plan.”

Some of the projects that are nearing completion in the first year include implementing a communications strategy, a bylaw enforcement strategy review including a new nuisance abatement bylaw, completing the Transportation Master Plan and the Climate Action Plan, and modernizing and streamlining the development application process.

Moving forward, the main goals are to finish the wastewater treatment system upgrades, protect the Perseverance Creek watershed, and reconstruct the dam at the No 2 drinking water reservoir to bring it into seismic compliance. Council and staff will also complete the Official

Community Plan review, the Arts and Culture master plan and the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan.

The Village is also participating in the regional Parks and Trails service, tourism services, and the development of an active travel route to Courtenay.

Learn more about the plan by visiting Village of Cumberland.