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Your voice matters for the future of Greenwich There’s still time to share your views and help create a Greenwich that works for everyone.
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s part of Our Greenwich, the corporate plan for the next four years, developed with residents, the council has committed to collaborating more often and working more deeply with local communities.
It is creating a Community Engagement Framework to build on the council’s current good work with communities, drive forward improvements and act as a guide for how it consults and engages in the future. The council is asking for thoughts, ideas and suggestions from residents on how it is currently liaising with local people and for feedback on the proposed draft framework. Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “We want to create a borough that works for everyone.
“To do that we need you to raise your voice so that we have a better understanding of what matters to residents, and you have great opportunities to shape important decisions that impact you – to make the services we provide the best that they can be.
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Recognises and promotes good practice in consultation and resident and community engagement where it exists at the council.
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An established system to enable quality assurance and standards on all aspects of community engagement.
“You make Greenwich. All of us working together, collaborating, discussing, consulting and designing services will lead to a more effective and representative council.”
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An outline for monitoring outcomes and performance.
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Residents, council officers and councillors with a clear understanding of the decision-making process.
People can have their say by completing a survey - that should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. People have until midnight on 21st January 2024 to take part. The draft framework provides: •
Guidance for the council to be consistent whilst delivering high quality resident and community involvement activity with residents.
Have your say by completing the survey online at: you-make-greenwich.commonplace.is You can also pick up a paper copy of the survey at any leisure centre, library or community centre in the borough. If you have any questions, or need support to complete the survey, please contact community.engagement@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Leisure centre improvement plans move forward Plans to improve the leisure centres at The Walnuts and West Wickham are moving forward following executive approval to move to the next stage of design works.
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he emerging plans would see upgrades to the gyms, swimming pools, changing rooms, cafés, studios and seating areas, with a redesign of the buildings and new modern facilities provided. Further detailed costing and technical designs are now being produced, with this information anticipated to come forward in the spring.
with the decision also being made that one pool would be kept open throughout this period, so each is refurbished in turn. This decision follows extensive engagement with residents and service users in West Wickham and Orpington, with feedback helping shape plans for the centres.
Subject to further approval and tendering, works could then begin in the latter half of 2024.
A Bromley Council spokesperson said: “We want to see first-class leisure facilities at both these important sites and have been developing these exciting plans, bearing in mind the priorities raised by the residents and communities who will benefit from them.
The improved sites would then be expected to be completed in 2026,
“While we are being mindful of the costs, especially given
the challenging conditions in construction currently, it is great to be moving forward with this major investment in the borough’s leisure provision, underlining Bromley Council's commitment to the health and wellbeing of its residents." Jason Stanton, CEO at Mytime Active - the borough’s longstanding leisure provider, said: “It is wonderful to see these plans moving forward, showing how important health and leisure is in Bromley. “The way people look after their wellbeing is changing and, while Mytime Active is constantly adapting to ensure we provide
new opportunities across the borough for residents to stay fit and healthy, the underlying facilities are also key in delivering high quality leisure provision. “We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Bromley Council and creating fitfor-purpose wellness destinations across the borough.” Alliance Leisure, a specialist company for leisure centre redevelopment, will continue to take forward the next stage of the plans, having been appointed on the project in 2023, including on the resident engagement.
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