The New Neighbourhoods Programme & Ward Budgets Councillor Daniel Astaire Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services
Westminster City Council Your Ward Councillors Regent’s Park Abbey Road Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Cyril Judith Lindsey Tim Daniel Gwyneth Nemeth Warner Hall Joiner Astaire Hampson
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
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