
Neighbourhood agreements – A recipe for peace and quiet (25 Oct 17)
Something very simple but highly effective. So why aren’t there more of them?
Maxine Moar, Community Participation Co-ordinator for the New Deal for Communities project in Oldham has just sent me the second neighbourhood agreement which covers the Hathershaw & Fitton Hill areas of Oldham.
It’s called Peace and Quiet because it deals with issues such as crime, anti social behaviour, fire safety and - naturally - noise nuisance.
I am passing it onto you because I am always struck by how something so simple as a Neighbourhood Agreement can be so effective. But I am also always astonished that there are not more of these agreements as they really do work and the benefits can be enormous.
Neighbourhood agreements simply involve residents and service providers sitting down and working out what people are unhappy with. Because this is done in an organised way they are able to agree what changes are needed and then introduce them.
The agreement lists what service providers and residents have agreed to do, as well as basic information about services so everybody knows what to expect.
In Oldham’s case several departments of the council, the police, the fire service and residents signed up to the agreement.
Oldham’s agreement covers commitments in these areas;
- Police response times
- How to contact the neighbourhood policing time
- How to reduce the risk of being a victim of crime
- What to do about anti social behaviour
- Trading standards and licensing
- Securing buildings
- Noise nuisance
- Fire safety
- Youth service
- Support with parenting
You can have a look at the agreement by
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