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

Councillor Angela Hooper CBE DL Councillor Caroline Keen Councillor Audrey Lewis Bryanston & Dorset Square Councillor Harvey Marshall Councillor Mark Page Councillor Ian Rowley Marylebone High Street Councillor Barbara Grahame Councillor Anthony Mothersdale Councillor Aziz Toki Church Street

Your Ward Councillors

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

What is the aim of the Ward Budgets?

• To enable Ward Councillors to tackle specific

local issues and priorities

Westminster City Council

How will Councillors decide how to spend the ward budget?

• Their own knowledge and personal experience of the

ward

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

Westminster City Council

How will Councillors decide how to spend the ward budget?

• Their own knowledge and personal experience of the

ward

Westminster City Council

How can you have your say? MyWard Debates

• Will be held as part of the new “MyWestminster Forums”
• “MyWestminster Forum - Marylebone” is on 29th April
• 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

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

How can you have your say?

You can also contact your councillor at any time through:

• mywestminsterforums@westminster.gov.uk
• Individual ward email address:
• bryanstonanddorsetsquare@westminster.gov.uk
• churchstreet@westminster.gov.uk
• marylebonehighstreet@westminster.gov.uk
• The 24 hour hotline: 020 7641 3916

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

FAQ

How will it work in practice?

An example: March ‘08

• Ward profile highlights a lack of youth provision in the

ward April ‘08

• Discussion at MyWard Debate reveals residents feel

intimidated by youths hanging around in a specific area

Westminster City Council

FAQ

May ‘08

• Ward Councillors discuss various issues taking into

account all evidence

• Ward Councillors decide to include Youth Provision as a

Ward Priority

Westminster City Council

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

• Buy extra time for City Guardian to patrol the area
• Commission local youth group to put on extra sessions
• Advertise for an officer to run youth workshops at a

local community venue

• Install improved lighting in the area to discourage

lingering

Westminster City Council

FAQ June ’08

• Ward Members decide best approach is to commission

local youth groups to put on extra sessions

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

sign off

Westminster City Council

FAQ July ’08

• Extra hours are commissioned from local youth group in

addition to existing sessions

Westminster City Council

Your Councillors want to know your views. Come to your:

MyWestminster Forum – Marylebone 6.30 - 8.30pm April 29th 2008