£138,000 boost gives power back to South Norfolk neighbourhoods

Neighbourhoods across South Norfolk are to get a £138,000 cash boost for community projects - and they are going to have a powerful say in how it is spent.

That was the message of South Norfolk Council's Cabinet when it gave the go-ahead to launch this flagship council commitment.

The Council knows that villages in the Waveney valley have different needs to the Norwich Fringe villages and has created five neighbourhood forums for the whole district led by local councillors, as part of a Total Neighbourhood Package.

The decision-making Forums will also include four community representatives from the neighbourhood area.

Neighbourhood managers from the council will work with the Forums to ensure that local issues important to local people in the neighbourhoods such as fly tipping and flooding are addressed.

As part of this new initiative, community groups can approach the new Neighbourhood Fund with an application for anything up to £2,000 per project. The council wants this to be used as seed money to pull in other cash.

It does not have to be the maximum, because many projects are able to attract much more financial support once they have secured some funding from the Forums.

But with £138,000 to hand out between now and next April, many projects are going to get the vital backing their need to succeed, thanks to this initiative.

These projects could range from holiday play schemes, supporting tourism, arts projects or encouraging local recycling.

And if all the money is not spent in this financial year - it will be rolled over into the next.

The council has also said it plans to increase the overall pot of funding in future, so even more projects will benefit.

Council Leader John Fuller said:

"We know a thousand pounds goes a long way in a small community and we want to make it easier for local groups of volunteers to apply for grants. I'm expecting local Councillors to help volunteer groups submit applications and support the projects that arise."

Council Deputy Leader Cllr Martin Wilby was asked by Cllr Fuller to drive the project forward after the local government elections.

Within five months, he and the council team have developed what is set to become a quiet revolution in devolution of power to local people.

Cllr Wilby said:

"It's not just about grants - our neighbourhood managers will make sure that our environment is protected, calling in our new Environmental Crimes Team to clean up fly-tipping or grafitti.

"Clean streets are safe streets and people look to the Council to keep our beautiful district clean and tidy."

The Cabinet report says that up to now, the council approach to funding of this kind has been "pick and mix" with projects getting support based on assessments and decisions taken behind closed doors inside its Long Stratton headquarters.

Under Neighbourhood Working, local people will have the chance to work with the Forum to make the key decisions on funding. They will work alongside community groups helping identify local projects and urging them to come forward with applications.

Not only will this directly benefit hundreds of families and individuals and improve quality of life in South Norfolk, there will be a powerful democratic benefit too.

Neighbourhood Working will strengthen the bonds of responsibility and accountability between local people and their councillors.

- The first meetings of the Neighbourhood Forums are in November. If you have a community project, and you need funding, get in touch with your local councillor now.

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