Green light for new Neighbourhood model
Date Published : 29 January 2010
Local people in Walsall are set to be given new powers to influence decisions in the places in which they live after councillors gave the thumbs up to a new scheme at a special council meeting last night (Thursday 28 January 2010).
Members were present to hear Walsall Partnership's proposals to replace Local Neighbourhood Partnerships (LNPs) with a new model, Area Partnerships. Chief Superintendent Kevin Bullas from West Midlands Police and Gary Fulford, Chief Executive of Walsall Housing Group both addressed the Council meeting and Denise McLellan, NHS Walsall’s Chief Executive sent a letter of support.
Nine LNPs have been operating in Walsall since 2004 to help local people to become more involved in matters that affect them in the area in which they live. Despite early success however, their popularity has waned in recent years, with limited attendance at public meetings and lack of understanding of their purpose.
A review of the LNPs, which began in September 2008, confirmed that a new way of engaging with the public was required for the council and its partners to work more closely with residents.
The new model will see the borough divided into six community areas. Within each Community Area, there will be at least one 'Place of Focus'. These will be relatively small, locally identified places where residents and the council and its partners will work together to solve specific issues and problems.
Instead of solely relying on public meetings, local people will be consulted in a wide range of places and at various times of the day, such as at local schools, supermarkets or from door-to-door. This will increase consultation with a wider cross section of the community and give people more of a say in shaping the services the council and its partners provide and the problems and issues they want addressed.
People will also be encouraged to get involved in solving local problems by setting up their own initiatives and groups who can be consulted.
Each Community Area will have a local budget of £40,000, managed by an Area Manager, which will be used to tackle issues affecting the people who live there. Of that, half (£20k) will be ring-fenced to the identified 'place of focus' within each Community Area.
Councillor Mike Bird, leader of the council and chair of Walsall Partnership said: "It's clear that we have to change the way we engage with our local communities and give people the chance to have real influence over the issues and problems in areas where they live.
"This was confirmed in our recent Audit Commission report that people living in Walsall feel they are not given a platform to discuss the concerns where they live.
"Area Partnerships will give local people the chance to engage with the council and its partners more fully."
Clive Wright, director for Walsall Partnership added: "We believe it's important for our local communities to have a greater say in how resources should be allocated locally. But it's equally important that we not only listen to the concerns of people but also explain what action has been taken to improve their neighbourhood.
"This will be achieved through our "We Asked, You Said, We Did" promise, which will highlight how we have listened and what differences have been achieved in their area."
Councillor Garry Perry, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities said: "This isn't a decision we have taken over night. We have consulted with residents, our partners and members of the voluntary sector to develop this model. Our partners including NHS Walsall, Walsall housing group and West Midlands Police are fully on board.
"We believe it will positively change the way that partners work together and help to resolve small scale problems quickly."
It is estimated that the implementation of the new scheme will cost the council £412,000 in 2010/11 and £357,000 in 2011/12. In addition NHS Walsall and Walsall Housing Group have committed financial support to the scheme.
More information on Area Partnerships will be made available soon.