Harrow Council to launch "Neighbourhood Champions" scheme
Published 9th November 09
A new scheme which aims to appoint a network of volunteer "Neighbourhood Champions" throughout Harrow to report on nuisances like litter and graffiti is set to be approved by Harrow Council.
The two-year programme plans ultimately to recruit up to 2,000 Neighbourhood Champions across Harrow who will have the role of reporting street-level nuisance and issues to the Council. It forms part of the Council's key priorities of delivering cleaner and safer streets.
Working in partnership with the police and building on the well-established Neighbourhood Watch programme, the Neighbourhood Champion idea has already struck a chord with Harrow residents. Research commissioned by Harrow Council suggests that four-fifths of local people* back a scheme that would give champions a priority route to report issues like litter and fly tipping on behalf of their neighbours.
Harrow Council is set to formally approve the Neighbourhood Champion scheme at its Cabinet meeting on November 12th. A recruitment campaign supported by a major promotional campaign is scheduled to start in early 2010 following Cabinet approval.
So what do Neighbourhood Champions do? The key role of volunteers will be to contact the Council with problems arising from street issues like
- Street cleaning
- Graffiti
- Abandoned vehicles
- Noise nuisance
- Petty vandalism
- General anti-social behaviour
Neighbourhood Champions will be given a special website page where their reports can be logged and acted on. Harrow Police will be swiftly alerted if the issue concerns criminal activity.
Councillor Susan Hall, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for Environment Services and Community Safety, said: "This is about extending more influence to our residents to help us deliver cleaner and safer streets.
"We have already invested in anti-social behaviour and cleaning teams, but the reality is that we are not always in a position to know when problems suddenly crop up.
"I really believe the Neighbourhood Champions network will help us to deliver cleaner and safer streets. We often talk about the loss of community spirit in our neighbourhoods - I think this is a great way of reclaiming some of that."
Harrow Council is preparing a guidebook for potential volunteers so they understand the scope of the role. Volunteers will be vetted and trained with the help of the police and Council before taking on their duties.
The scheme will have a dedicated manager to ensure residents are getting the maximum benefit and normal environment department services like street cleaning and rubbish collection are unaffected.
Notes:
- *When asked in the August reputation tracker about a "street champions" scheme giving residents the opportunity to report street issues, 87 per cent supported the idea and 25 per cent expressed an interest in getting involved.
- The launch budget is £71,000 which will cover training, set-up, marketing and administrative costs. This sum has already been allocated to Environment Services for improvements during this financial year.
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