Sustainable Communities Act 2007

What is it?

 It’s a voluntary act (which Newcastle Borough Council have signed up to) which contains a channel for local people and local authorities to ask central government to take action on issues that will improve the economic, social or environmental well being of an area

How does it work

1)Local people come up with ideas – these go through the local authority & the Local Government Association (LGA) and then to the Secretary of State (SoS) who make the final decision on what actions should be taken. 2)The local authority can look at transferring functions from one body to another. To do this they must first consult with the body that already provide the service as well as the proposed body who the function would be transferred to.

What can it be used for?

To promote…..

• • • • Economic Social Environmental wellbeing Participation in civic or political activity

Economic

• • • Provision of local services The number of local jobs Planning policies that help achieve the aims of the Act.

Social

 Ending fuel poverty  Promoting local food and ending fuel poverty  Increasing social inclusion  Measures to increase community health and wellbeing

Environmental well-being

 Promoting local energy and energy efficiency  Helping the environment  Measures to reduce the level of road traffic

Participation in civic or political activity

 Promoting greater participation in the decision-making process

Taking part and submitting views

 LSP theme groups  Press release to local media  Electronic information and forms for submitting ideas are on the Borough Council website at www.newcastle

–staffs.gov.uk under customer services  All views to be submitted by

30 th April 2009

What happens next

 Review submissions  Select submissions to send to the LGA  LGA reviews all council submissions and sends it’s chosen submissions to be acted upon to the Secretary of State  SoS will publish the chosen list along with an action plan for delivery