Council
6 June, 2024
Council endorses early-years plan for our youngest
Horsham's new plan for developing and maintaining early-years strategies and services for children, parents and carers is now in place.
Councillors voted unanimously at the Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) monthly meeting on Monday to adopt the Municipal Early Years Plan 2024-2028 as shared with the community in the preceding five weeks.
HRCC placed a draft of the plan on show in mid-April, inviting the public to comment.
Council's director of place, Kevin O'Brien, said the one submission made during this period did not require that the plan be revised, leaving the way open for councillors to endorse the document in its existing form.
In presenting it for consideration, Mr O'Brien said although the plan was "not a statutory requirement", council had supported it in the past "as a key tool in setting the strategic direction for delivery in the early-years sector ".
Cr David Bowe said the plan was a result of "extensive community consultation and a thorough data analysis aimed at providing our youngest residents and their families the best possible foundation for life success".
Cr Les Power said without such a plan, the community "would go backwards (but) with this we go forwards".
"Education is just a must for everybody," he said.
The plan's content spans critical areas including access to childcare and allied health services.