The Local Government Act 2000 places a duty on local authorities to prepare a Community Strategy to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their areas, and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development across the UK.

Government guidance states that Community Strategies should:
• Be prepared and implemented by a local strategic partnership
• Engage and involve local communities
• Be based on an assessment of needs and resources

While Community Strategies should reflect local needs, they must also include:
• A long term vision for the area focussing on outcomes to be achieved
• An action plan identifying shorter term priorities and activities to achieve long term outcomes
• A shared commitment to implement the action plan
• Arrangements for monitoring and review, and reporting progress to the community