Safer and stronger communities

Version 1, May 2008

 

Involving people to have a greater voice and influence over local decision-making and the delivery of services

Why is this a priority?

"It's good that people value your opinion and that you can play a part in shaping how an important part of the borough will look over the next 100 years so, it’s important that local people have a voice".

Chair of the Friends of South Marine Park, Norma Simpson

Involving people is key to providing services that people want and need.

It is important that we enable more people to play an active role in the decisions that affect their communities to build community spirit and sense of place. 

Involvement is key to improving wellbeing and promoting social inclusion: there is an intrinsic value felt by people who are involved - people simply feel better when they can take part to help make a difference.

One way of doing this is through volunteering - a sign of a strong, active community. 

Our area teams have worked with residents to provide training and support for them to set up voluntary residents associations, as we believe everyone has a right to say what goes on in their neighbourhood.

These associations work closely with the council to address residents' concerns and improve the neighbourhoods.  

Where are we now?

  • We achieved Beacon status as 'Neighbourhood and Community Champions' for highlighting members’ roles in neighbourhood action planning and partnership working
  • We have neighbourhood teams in Boldon Newtown, Rekendyke and Jarrow.  Seven neighbourhood action plans are in place so far and we are working in 11 of our 19 priority neighbourhoods
  • There are many successful examples of voluntary community involvement. The Friends of South Marine Park, for example, were integral in the restoration of one of our biggest and oldest parks, helping with the master planning for the restoration, co-ordinating exhibitions and supporting public consultation
  • We involve people in a wide variety of ways:
    • Consultation events
    • Community Area Forums, Neighbourhood Partnerships and the Community Network
    • Communities of Common Interest groups
    • Volunteering
    • Use of arts/museums
  • However, our Ipsos MORI resident survey in 2006 showed us that:
    • Only 34% of people are satisfied with the opportunities for participation in local decision-making provided by the council.
    • 30% said they would like to be involved in any decisions the council makes. 54% would like to be involved depending on the issue.
    • 51% of people feel they are not very well or not informed at all on how they can get involved in local decision making.
    • 65% disagree that they can influence decisions affecting their local area

Where do we want to be?

We want to increase the number of people who feel that we ask, listen and act on the views of residents and service users by providing more forums for consultation, and to give people more control over the services they use. Partnership working will be key to this. 

We also want to make sure we consult key groups, such as young people, and minority groups. 

In 2008 we launched our Partnership Community Involvement Strategy, which sets out how the Community Network, the public, and the private and voluntary sectors in South Tyneside will come together to involve and engage residents.

Volunteering has many positive impacts for the individual, the neighbourhood and community, and can be a step on the route to employment, so we want to continue to promote volunteering in South Tyneside.

National indicators in our Local Area Agreement

  • NI 3  - Civic participation in the local area
  • NI 4  - % of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality
  • NI 6  - Participation in regular volunteering

How are we performing?

Many of these indicators are new in 2008, so at present there is no data to support them. Information will be provided as it becomes available.

Do residents agree that they can influence decisions affecting the local area?

More information on our consultations

Links to further information

Plans and strategies

Next update due: April 2009

 

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