Are we ‘community involved’?

Story by Mark Lankshear

The early days of New Deal in Burngreave were marked by exceptional levels of community involvement. In 2001 the first Partnership Board election turnout was 52% – the highest ever in the country. By 2003 it had dropped to 23%, concerns were also raised about how projects were being approved without community involvement.

The 2004 household survey showed that 20% of Burngreave residents volunteer for local organisations and, of the 270 jobs created by New Deal, nearly half have gone to local people. Many of us are clearly working hard to transform our community, but are we still involved in deciding how the New Deal money is spent?

Residents can get involved in discussions about New Deal through Theme Groups, the Information Shop and other consultations, but this is not really where the decisions are made.

At the moment the New Deal Partnership Board, with ten Community Reps, oversees the whole programme and gives projects their final approval. The Executive and staff team run the consultations, write the plans and put them into action.

Since 2003 the Community Reps have provided what John Clark described as a “strong partnership with decision making stability,” but he also explained that the Government now talked about ‘Community Involved’ Partnerships, not ‘Community Led’ as New Deal used to be described.

A review of the election process is now nearing completion (pages14 & 15) and a new system has been introduced for the early stages of project approval. New ‘Theme Strategy Groups’ have taken over the decision making role from the Theme Groups. They are made up of two nominated residents, statutory workers and community organisation reps for each theme.

The Theme Group meetings are still open to the public and help debate and coordinate the work of the New Deal.

Balancing act

Richard Caborn MP, speaking at the relaunch of Verdon Recreation Centre, emphasised the Government’s continuing belief that regeneration had to empower individuals. “Developing local leadership is key to keeping the respect of the community and rebuilding the social fabric,” he said, but also agreed that the approach had changed. “In the early days of New Deal we didn’t get the balance right, people were given power without responsibility and sometimes it was very divisive. Local people do need power, but like all elected representatives, they also need to be accountable.”

The Year Five plan contains much more spending than previous years, and major building work that will affect us all. It will also mean New Deal Ltd will own and run two large buildings on behalf of the community. Many in the community now have years of experience, not only of the realities of living here but also of working to improve the area and its services. Their practical knowledge needs to be respected and heard if the New Deal investments are to become community assets, not liabilities.

The Community Reps on the Partnership Board are a vitally important part of the balance that is needed between the community and professionals who work here if the money is to be spent wisely and fairly.

To find out more about the upcoming Community Rep elections, see ‘Elections – an important year ahead’.