Posts Tagged ‘Power to the People’

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Power to the People – Town Council could run Crewe’s major assets

July 22nd, 2012

Some of Crewe’s key assets are likely to be managed locally when a town council is established.

Cheshire East Council is expected to make an order giving Crewe a town council later this year.

Once the order has been made responsibility for running the Market Hall, the town’s public toilets and its allotments could be be given to the town council.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cheshire East Council’s cabinet member in charge of communities and regulatory services, said: “Local facilities should be run and managed by local people.”

PH/PP

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Power to the People – Controversial legislation is changing the face of local politics

July 9th, 2012

The controversial Localism Act is changing the face of local politics.

Councillors and local government officers have criticised the legislation that forces local authorities to hold referendums on excessive council tax increases and gives people the chance to “take over” the running of local services such as street lighting, youth centres and libraries.

The statute, which requires parish councillors to provide details of any land they own and give details of any shares held in a company that are worth more than one per cent of its value, has not been welcomed by Whitbourne Parish Council in Herefordshire whose clerk, Keith Butler, claims it could “criminalise” members.

Mr. Butler is reported as saying “These are voluntary people doing a job without pay or expenses, simply to make sure the community runs smoothly.

“They aren’t in it for an ego trip, to rip off huge sums of money or go on junkets to the Caribbean.”

PH/PP

The Phoenix Trust’s new email address is phoenixstaffs@mail.com

 

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Power to the People – Community Right to Challenge

June 28th, 2012

Community Right to Challenge gives communities the opportunity to bid to take over local authority services which they think they can run more efficiently.

It gives power to the people by allowing community groups and parish councils to express an interest in taking over the running of local services.

Specialist support will be available to existing groups that want to run services and help will be given to local people who want  to create a new group to provide them.

The Social Investment Business, in partnership with Locality and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, will deliver a 3-year support programme worth £11.5 million.

A telephone advice line is being set up and grants will be available to help groups achieve their objectives.

You can read the full story on the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

PH/PP

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Power to the People – Town council to run Sandbach market

May 24th, 2012

Responsibility for running Sandbach’s town hall, markets, public toilets and the small common, which are at present managed by the principal authority Cheshire East, is being transferred to Sandbach Town Council.

When interviewed about the transfer, town mayor Carolyn Lowe is reported to have said: “We are determined to make the Town Hall a welcoming, friendly, well equipped and affordable place to hold an event.

“We are determined to raise the public conveniences’ standard of cleanliness and to bring the market back to its former glory.”

As well as running the town’s historic Thursday market, Sandbach Town Council is going to manage Alsager and Middlewich markets.

PH/PP

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Power to the People – Community Rights

May 21st, 2012

Community Rights give local people and groups more control over amenities, services and proposed developments that affect their lives.

Community Right to Build and neighbourhood planning were introduced in April, 2012.

Two more rights:

  • Community Right to Challenge – which will give communities the right to challenge and take over local council services, and
  • Community Right to Bid – which will give communities the right to “bid to buy” and take over the running of local assets

are expected to come into force by the end of July.

PH/PP

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