What is Neighbourhood Planning?
What are Neighbourhood Panels?
What is the role of
Neighbourhood Panels?
Who is involved in
Neighbourhood Panels?
How does
Neighbourhood Planning operate locally?
What are Neighbourhood Plans?
The
future for Neighbourhood Planning
Contact us:
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Neighbourhood Planning was introduced in 2003/4 in all areas of the borough. This approach delivers a more locally focused approach to customer involvement and provides opportunities for all individual customers, as well as customer representatives, to get involved in local issues. Neighbourhood Planning has an identified budget that is used to:
Neighbourhood Planning links with and complements existing local planning structures and programmes. It is a logical extension of our successful Local Community Planning process, which gives customers in targeted areas the opportunity to make decisions on regeneration projects in their area. It also links to Private Sector Renewal Areas and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas.
Neighbourhood Panels were set up to replace the District Housing Working
Parties. These were created by Bolton Housing Department to increase customer
involvement in the management and delivery of local housing services.
Neighbourhood Panels encompass a large area made up of many estates, some of
which have Local Community Panels. Bolton at Home customers can become
actively involved in making decisions on housing issues by becoming a member
of their local Neighbourhood Panel.
There are 14 Neighbourhood Planning Areas; however Horwich and Blackrod
decided it would be more beneficial to have separate panels so there are 15
Neighbourhood Panels. These are:
Initially, the key role of the panel is to provide an opportunity for customers and stakeholders to influence Bolton at Home's capital programme. The panels have clear terms of reference and a defined role and structure. Each panel is developing a local consultation plan to make sure their decision making is informed by regular consultation with customers within their area. The role of panels will develop and change over time in line with the Neighbourhood Planning Framework (see 'The Future for Neighbourhood Planning' below).
The panels are made up of individual customers, elected members, community groups and key stakeholders. They provide all customers with an ongoing opportunity to participate in local issues. The Panels are supported by the Community Housing Manager and Customer Involvement Team.
Panel meetings are held on a regular basis, usually monthly or every 6
weeks, at local venues.
Each Neighbourhood Panel has a specified budget to help improve their area and
enhance the work done under the capital programme. The Panel members suggest
schemes and decide how to spend their budget. Schemes approved by the Panel
are put forward to the relevant Area Board for approval.
Examples of schemes carried out under Neighbourhood Planning include:
In addition to decision making, panel members have access to training and
development on various subjects to help them get the most out of being a panel
member.
Panels are also working towards producing newsletters to spread the word about
panel activity in their neighbourhood.
The panels are currently working towards producing local neighbourhood
plans that relate to broader based neighbourhood regeneration and the
introduction of a more holistic approach.
The plans will set out how customers want their area to develop and improve
and how this can be achieved. The plans will be 'owned' by customers; they
will play the lead role in monitoring and evaluating their delivery.
Bolton at Home has established a five year plan for the development of neighbourhood panels. Over this period we intend to develop the panels in various ways including:
Customer Involvement Team,
Bolton at Home,
1-3 The Courtyard,
Calvin Street,
The Valley,
Bolton at Home
BL1 8PB
Tel: 01204 335779
Fax: 01204 335662
Text Message: 07766726490
Email: citeam@boltonathome.org.uk
If you require this information in another format i.e. large print, audio or
translated into Urdu or Gujarati please telephone 01204 335744.
The Path to Customer Involvement
