Councils urged to copy others
- Published: 13 August 2008 08:17
- Author: Robin Latchem
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 13 August 2008 08:19
Councils are being encouraged to learn from fellow authorities to help save money, clean up their streets and make them better areas to live.
A series of examples illustrates a new guide from Communities and Local Government and the LGA.
The guide showcases 16 innovative efforts which can improve the quality of life in specific areas, help public services, and enable councils to make efficiency savings.
The aim is to support councillors in their role as "community champions" and in their efforts to improve their local neighbourhood.
One initiative included an 'e-auction' when bin suppliers competed against each other by bidding prices downwards in a live online auction staged by nine authorities.
Savings amounted to 20% (£1.2m) of the anticipated spend for the volume of goods purchased and an additional 10 authorities have since participated in the project.
Another was a co-operative effort by eight local authorities in Nottinghamshire to buy 27 refuse trucks which saved over £4,000 per vehicle - £114,000 in total.
Launching the guide, Baroness Andrews said: "Perceptions about the quality of our public spaces are crucial factors in determining how satisfied people are with their local area.
"Councillors are in a unique position to respond to the challenges highlighted by their local communities and champion the solutions necessary to create better quality town centres, residential areas and parks."
"Action to create good quality public spaces is essential in engaging communities in their local area."
Sir Simon Milton
LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton, said: "Action to create good quality public spaces is essential in engaging communities in their local area and helping to raise the profile and reputation of the council.
"Clean, attractive and well designed public spaces encourage people to walk and cycle, and children to be active and play outside.
"This has wider environmental benefits, such as reducing local traffic and CO2 emissions, as well as improving health and well-being and creating safer, more vibrant neighbourhoods."
