The New Neighbourhoods Programme & Ward Budgets Councillor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The New Neighbourhoods Programme & Ward Budgets

Councillor Daniel Astaire

Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services

Westminster City Council

Your Ward Councillors

Councillor Cyril Nemeth Councillor Judith Warner Councillor Lindsey Hall

Abbey Road Regent’s Park

Councillor Tim Joiner Councillor Gwyneth Hampson Councillor Daniel Astaire

Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council wants to see:

• Strong communities supported by excellent services

So we have committed to:

• Strengthening neighbourhoods
• Promoting active communities

Westminster City Council

What are Ward Budgets?

• Annual ward budget of £100k per ward
• 2 year programme initially
• New money from the One City Fund
• Dedicated resource for councillors to tackle local issues
• Will be used to commission new or additional projects,

services or facilities in your ward

Westminster City Council

How will Councillors decide how to spend the ward budget?

• Their own knowledge, personal experience of the ward

and contacts

• Expanded City Survey for ward-level consultation
• Ward Profiles
• MyWard Debates
• Online feedback

Westminster City Council

How can you have your say?

You can also contact your councillor at any time through:

• mywestminsterforums@westminster.gov.uk
• Individual ward email address:
• abbeyroad@westminster.gov.uk
• regentspark@westminster.gov.uk
• The 24 hour hotline: 020 7641 3916

Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council

How can you have your say? MyWard Debates – Introduction

• Will be held as part of the new “MyWestminster Forums”
• “MyWestminster Forum – St. John’s Wood” is on 22nd

May

• Covers the same wards as this forum
• Open to anyone who lives, works or learns in the ward
• Round-table discussion style format

Westminster City Council

How can you have your say? MyWard Debates - Format

• Councillors will introduce the profile of their ward to

highlight potential areas for discussion

• Councillors will lead a discussion on ward priorities
• You will be able to talk about your issues face-to-face

with your councillor

Aim

• For you to highlight your priorities and issues for your

Councillors to consider

Westminster City Council

FAQ When will Ward Councillors make their decisions on spending?

• Proposals can be made throughout the year
• Three main phases – June, September,

December

Westminster City Council

FAQ Can wards share budgets?

• Yes - to fund joint projects between two or more wards

But:

• Each ward must have identified the same issue
• There must clear benefits for the residents in each ward

Westminster City Council

FAQ Who will monitor spending?

• Public Money = usual safeguards apply
• Signed off by Cabinet Member

Westminster City Council

How will it work in practice?

March ‘08

• Ward profile highlights fear of crime as an area of

dissatisfaction for residents in the ward

• Ward profile shows that crime figures are in fact falling in

the ward May ‘08

• Discussion at MyWard Debate reveals that it is a specific

area within the ward where residents feel unsafe walking at night time

Westminster City Council

May ’08

• Ward Councillors discuss various issues taking into

account all evidence

• Ward Councillors decide to include “Fear of Crime” as a

Ward Member Priority

Westminster City Council

May ’08 Councillors research options for tackling the issue, including:

• Buy extra time from a City Guardian to patrol the area

causing concern

• Collaborate with local police and CivicWatch to run an

event providing information on crimes levels and prevention techniques

• Install improved lighting in the area

Westminster City Council

June ’08

• Ward Members check with council officers what is

already planned for the area

• They learn that improved lighting in the area is already

planned in the coming year

• Based on this they decide to buy extra hours from a City

Guardian to patrol the area at night time only

Westminster City Council

June ’08

• The proposal is costed and a basic project plan produced
• Ward Members submit proposal to Cabinet Member for

sign off July ’08

• Extra hours are commissioned for a City Guardian to

patrol the area at night

Westminster City Council

Your Councillors want to know your views Come to your:

MyWestminster Forum – St John’s Wood

6.30 - 8.30pm on Thursday May 22nd 2008