DeVon County Council launched its new five year plan on Wednesday in a special ceremony at Stover Country Park.

The plan was presented in a document called Our Devon: A Focus on the Future. It explains the authority's priorities and targets for the next five years and explains how they are to be achieved. The five main points of the plan are to give Devon's children and young people the best start in life, to strengthen Devon's economy, celebrate its culture, improve the county's environment and to promote independence and choice in Devon.

Each of the five key points has a list of targets to be achieved in that area by 2008. For example the targets for independence and choice include a 40 per cent reduction in the number of older people expected to move permanently into residential care; a five per cent increase in the proportion of adults and older people helped to live at home; and a 10 per cent increase in the number of people aged 60 or over helped to claim additional benefits. Councillor Brian Greenslade, leader of Devon County Council, said: 'Devon and its future matters a great deal to us all. Making Devon greener is a theme that spans a focus for the future. We have a duty to protect Devon's environment today and for generations to come. 'The county council will consider the environmental implications of all its policies, lead by example and use our precious resources more efficiently while encouraging businesses and the people of Devon to play their part in making Devon England's greenest county.'