Town and parish councils: delivering better and differently

Town and parish councils:delivering better and differently

James Kingston [email protected] Allan [email protected]

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DCLG’s objective

To help town and parish councils deliver more

devolved services from principal authorities; alternative models of delivery; additional services

Can depend on effective partnership working between the tiers

The opportunity

Track record of delivery in Our Place from town and parish councils

Over 100 applications to the ‘Delivering Differently’ programme

Public service transformation network

Financial climate3

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• Town centre location• Surrounding the Civic

Centre,• Next door to car-parks and a

new cinema, restaurant & hotel development• Events venue

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• Seven year’s hard work - promises, promises

• Adopt strategy, change to unitary & then Localism

• Funding squeezed – no investment• Wiltshire Council asset transfer policy

• One year full funding then nothing• Toilets and play areas ongoing 50%

• Town Council requirements• Full control,• No long term financial dependency• Funding for longer to smooth the

transition• Agreement

• Rolled up 25 years into a five year funding package

• Transfer agreed – July 2013

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• New cabinet member – more transfers expected

• Allotments – April 2014• Future Packages of +/- assets

• + generate income – car-parks• - increase costs – recreation grounds, play

areas

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• Before & After• A safe place to

walk

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

• Improve security - remove shrubs and fences

• Improved lighting• Exposing spring

bulbs

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• Before & After• Play Area

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

• £30,000 S106 funding

• New fencing• New equipment• No new signs!

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• Before & After• Pond

Discover TROWBRIDGE PARK

• Pumps working• Improve visibility• Refurbish seating• Appreciated by

public and ducks!

Trowbridge Town Council

Working with the Community

www.trowbridge.gov.uk

• We Know Our Place• £3000 grant and consultant support• Working with Wiltshire Council, Community

Partnership and Clinical Commissioning Group

• Coordinate development of Town Centre• Masterplan• Railway Station Improvements• Campus – Leisure and Health• Commercial development• Business Improvement District• Wayfinding• Car-parks• Re-branding

OUR PLACE

DCLG’s approach

To inform, enthuse, network,

support

A call for evidence

Your examples wanted!

Aim to help create a network- but what should it look like?

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What we need from you

Examples of innovative, efficient delivery and partnership working

Ideas

How can the expertise in the sector be captured, shared and deployed?-network of practitioners?-web based resource?-networking events?How to involve principal authorities?

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Resources

www.justact.org.uk

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What we need from you

Ideas

Over to you…

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