The Young Foundation August 2010
Transforming Neighbourhoods
replacing the ecology of local association, consultation, co-production and cogovernance that may already be present, from tenant management organisations and social enterprises to community policing. Rather, they could help in gathering these processes together, filling gaps and providing broader local vision, leadership and accountability (increasingly important in cases of decision-making, service devolution or community assets).
The diagram overleaf, intended only as an indicative starting-point and based as much on past practice as on fresh thinking, presents some possibilities for the future composition, structures and practices of neighbourhood governance. In every case approaches should be determined with local people and guided by the outcomes sought.
Local public figures e.g. vicar, police inspector, headmistress?
Cooption by neighbourhood Ward body councillors?
Neighbourhood elections
Selection or Self-selecting invitation participation Neighbourhood by lot Active representatives? citizens?
ENGAGEMENT Petition & referendum, public assembly, street reps & interviews, new technologies, polling, volunteering
PUBLI C REALM Guardianship and regeneration of local public assets and spaces
INVESTMENT Spending or influencing devolved budgets, employing community staff,, Improvement districts, precepts
PUBLI C SERVICES Redesign, devolution and collaboration, SLAs,,holding accountable
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PRACTICES
LEADERSHIP Participative planning and visioning, data, advocacy, champions/guardians, joining-up, public value
STRUCTURES
NEIGHBOURHOOD PANELS NEIGHBOURHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD For citizen voice and deliberation – public authorities could be FORUMS MANAGERS obliged to engage panels. Could be elected/chosen by lot, meet Open assemblies, Employed/elected regularly or on demand. on-demand or regular, joined-up hold public servants leadership, NEIGHBOURHOOD BOARDS, PARISH/TOWN COUNCILS to account, raise issues, channel For decision-making and leadership, largely elected. even make spending (Wider?) range of powers, raising funds, trigger mechanisms, decisions? innovative engagement mechanisms, devolved responsibilities.
COMPOSITION
NEIGHBOURHOOD GOVERNANCE: INNOVATIONS POSSIBLE