Another 100 communities join neighbourhood budgets scheme

17 Feb 15
Another 100 areas are to be given greater control over public spending through an expansion of the government’s neighbourhood community budgets programme.

By Richard Johnstone | 18 February 2015

Another 100 areas are to be given greater control over public spending through an expansion of the government’s neighbourhood community budgets programme.

Communities minister Stephen Williams yesterday announced the expansion of the so-called Our Place scheme as part of a £6m funding boost for the coalition’s programme of community rights.

Under the initiative, local people, councillors and service providers are brought together to identify where improvements could be made to local services. Among the service areas covered in the programme’s more than 100 examples to date are measures to help cut crime, action to tackle health inequalities and a programme to improve local employment and skills.

As well the expansion of Our Place, Williams also said communities will have access to tailored advice to help them use the range of community rights and other neighbourhood approaches, such as the right to bid for community assets and the right challenge service provision.

Announcing the expansion, Williams said use of the rights was already helping local people decide how to run their community.

‘Real innovation and impact does not come from the old ways of working but from new ideas, new collaborations, new partnerships and most of all from local people who have the best knowledge,’ he added.

‘The 3,000 uses of the rights so far is proof that communities are revolutionising the way their neighbourhoods work and this further commitment will ensure the Community Rights movement goes from strength to strength.’

Williams also announced the awarding of six new contracts to the expansion of community rights in 2015/16 to Locality, Co-operatives UK and the Community Development Foundation.

 

 

Spacer

CIPFA logo

PF Jobsite logo

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top