More power for local people as neighbourhood engagement pilot takes off

Media release 4 May 2007

Communications

A scheme which was integral to Exeter City Council reaching the government's shortlist for unitary status is about to take off.  The Neighbourhood Engagement Project which gives local people more power in making decisions about their own communities begins in June.  The project will be piloted for 18 months in four key areas of the city: Clyst Heath/Kings Heath; Exwick; City Centre/Newtown/Polsloe; and St David's.

The pilot is backed by £71,000 funding, £20,000 of which will be available to be spent on schemes chosen by the neighbourhood groups.  Issues to be considered by the group could be anything from anti-social behaviour and lack of youth facilities to poor street lighting and potholes in the road. 

Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI) and Exeter Council for Voluntary Service (ECVS) will receive £51,000 to support building the skills of the neighbourhood groups in public speaking and understanding how fund applications are made.  Both organisations were selected because of their experience and well-established networks in the city.

Bindu Arjoon, Assistant Chief Executive says: "We believe that our plans for engaging with our neighbourhoods the scheme contributed to the success of getting our unitary case shortlisted.  This reflects the importance of greater engagement between councils and the communities they serve as identified by the government's White Paper.  We are not talking about devolved power as in town and parish councils.  This is on a much more localised neighbourhood scale.

"It shows we are serious about getting people involved at a grassroots level rather than us just making encouraging noises. Neighbourhood Engagement is a very practical way of giving people the confidence and skills to participate in making decisions that affect them close to home. 

"We will have even higher hopes for the pilot if Exeter is given the green light as a unitary authority in July.  If we deliver all council services under one roof it will give us a greater ability to solve problems quickly and more effectively.  For example if one neighbourhood group complains about street cleaning and badly maintained pavements the responsibility will be solely ours rather than ours and the county's.

We are also delighted that local partners such as the police and voluntary and community organisations have agree to work with us on this."

Chief Inspector Adrian Brigden police commander for Exeter added: "From a policing perspective this is the right way forward. We are really keen to work alongside the council on this initiative.  This is about joining up our services so we can respond to the needs of our communities across Exeter."

Ward councillors in each of the four areas will act as community champions to channel views through to partner services such as the police and voluntary organisations.  Some general issues that have been already been raised include the need for more adult education, after school clubs and mobile libraries within specific neighbourhoods.

Cllr Dilys Baldwin, Lead Councillor for Housing and Social Inclusion said: "By spearheading the Neighbourhood Engagement Project the city council is acknowledging that the experts on issues in a particular community are the people who live there.  The areas are typically urban and as such require solutions that are best provided by those with a solid understanding of urban issues.  Once again it demonstrates the advantages of Exeter becoming a unitary council."

Throughout June and July there will be 'Get to know you' events in each of the areas for local people to find out more about what is happening in their neighbourhoods and how they can get involved.  The first event will be held on Saturday 23 June at Belmont Park in Newtown between 12 noon and 4 pm.

Ends.

For more information please see the contacts on this page.

Notes for editors

For comments from Exeter CVS contact: John Bunting, Director ECVS on 01392 202055
For comments from Exeter Community Initiative contact: Alistair Mackintosh on 01392 205800

For more details about individual 'Get to know you' events contact the City Council's Communications unit.