Local Works organisations write special letter to MPs
Thu 14th Jan 2010
Organisations of the Local Works coalition have written to MPs urging them to support the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill. See the impressive letter is here.
Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill to be introduced into Parliament
Monday 30th November
Alistair Burt MP has agreed to introduce the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill into Parliament. Local Works thanks and congratulates Alistair Burt for this.
There is a real chance of seeing this Bill made law before May 2010. But your help as a citizens is needed.
ACTION - we need your help! Please write to, or email, your MP asking them to 'Please sign Early Day Motion 143 in support of the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill.' Details available here.
The Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill will greatly strengthen the Act by creating an ongoing 'rolling' programme for communities and councils to submit proposals to government after 31st July 2009. It will also formally include Parish and Town Councils in the Act's process. A one page guide on the Bill can be viewed here.
Note: the Sustainable Communities Act and Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill currently apply to England only
100 Councils submit 300 proposals to tackle community decline!
On 31 July 2009 the first group of Sustainable Communities Act proposals to tackle community decline across the country were submitted to the Local Government Association. 100 Councils submitted 300 proposals. This is a fantastic amount of activity for such a radical new process.
The proposals deal with a huge range of issues from public transport to democratic involvement. A list of all proposals with a short summary of each can be viewed in this Excel document. A full list of complete proposals can be viewed on the Local Government Association website here.
Is your council using the Act? - these maps will tell you
On 31 July 2009 100 Councils (district/borough/city and county) across England submitted proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act to combat community decline in their area. A further 45 Councils have resolved to submit proposals in future rounds.
You can only use the radical new bottom-up powers in the Sustainable Communities Act if your councils choose to use it too! See the maps and list below for those who have used it already or are committed to using it in the future. If your councils have not already committed to using the Act please write to them (and urge others to write too!), this sample letter will help you.
Maps of the areas covered by councils which have agreed to use the Act this year can be viewed here.
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100 councils and their communities used the Sustainable Communities Act by submitting proposals on 31 July 2009, a full list along with those Councils committed to using the Act in future rounds can be viewed here.
Note: the Sustainable Communities Act currently applies to England only
The Local Government Association and its importance in the Sustainable Communities Act’s process
The Local Government Association is the ‘selector’ under the Act. Find out more about this here.
Guides and Briefings on the Sustainable Communities Act for Citizens, Councillors and Officers
Local Works have produced several 'easy to read' guides and briefings for Citizens, Councillors and Officers on how the Act works and how to use it to do things like save the Post Offices, small shops, public services, promote democracy and protect the environment.
The Local Works Steering Group has produced a key list of suggested proposals, download it here
Guidance sheets with suggested proposals (on issues like protecting the environment, promoting local shops and services and promoting democratic involvement) can be viewed and downloaded here.
All Guides and briefings are available here.
Big Lottery Funding
Local Works would like to thank The Big Lottery Fund for helping us continue our work to promote the Sustainable Communities Act.
