7 May 2009, 09/95
Improving West Lancashire – have you got a good
idea?
Have you got a good idea to help improve your community? The
Council is inviting suggestions from local people, organisations or
groups that will promote the quality of life and well-being of
local communities.
West Lancs is taking part in a new national scheme under the
Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) which encourages local people to
put forward ideas for consideration by the Secretary of State who
will decide whether they can be implemented.
Suggestions put forward by local people must meet criteria
set by Government which means:
- Ideas must be about making changes that the local council or
other local bodies cannot currently do and which
need action by central government before they can be made to
happen, for example a change in legislation; a transfer of
responsibilities from one public body to another; or a new national
policy
- Ideas must demonstrate that they promote the sustainability of
local communities in relation to encouraging improvement
in:
– economic
well-being
– social
well-being
– environmental
well-being; or
– participation in civic and political
activity.
- Ideas must not involve requests for funding.
Suggestions which do not meet the criteria will not be
considered.
Ms Kim Webber, Assistant Chief Executive, said: “Local
people and organisations often have good ideas about what can be
done to improve their communities, but need central government to
make changes to ensure things can happen. This new scheme gives
local areas the chance to put forward their suggestions and
the Council has decided to take part to give people in West Lancs
the opportunity to get involved.”
Ideas need to be submitted to the Council by Wednesday 27 May
2009. Further information and a form is available through Sustainable
Communities Act page.
Ideas put forward for West Lancs will be assessed in June by a
representative advisory panel drawn from the local community. The
panel’s views will be taken into account by Council and agreed
proposals will then be put forward to the Local Government
Association (LGA). The LGA will consider ideas put forward by
councils all over the UK and will whittle them down to a shortlist.
This will be presented to the Secretary of State who will decide
which, if any, of the proposals will be implemented.
Related information