Community Development - Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Bristol City Council wishes to improve and increase the opportunities for local people to influence the delivery of Services in their communities. Working with residents and service providers, we are currently rolling out the COuncil's new local area governance structure, Neighbourhood Partnerships, across the city. The main motivation behind the introduction of Neighbourhood Partnerships (NPs) is the assumption that no one knows better than local people how well (or otherwise) services are being delivered in their neighbourhood. By engaging local people in discussions on service delivery, it is expected that the quality of service delivery will improve.

As well as introducing NPs across Bristol, Bristol City Council is also working to ensure that all Council departments are properly able to respond to local residents' views. This is a large and complex task but is something the Council is committed to achieving in order to ensure the success of the NP structure.

The NP structure is supported by upcoming legislation - Strong and Prosperous Local Government White Paper (October 2006) which will require local authorities to give local people and local communities more influence and power to improve their lives. The main thrust of the white paper is to encourage local authorities to deliver better public services through a re-balancing of the relationship between central government, local government and local people. The role of Councillors is core to this happening successfully. The legislation will enhance the role of Councillors as they will be central to the process that will require local authorities to extend their duty to inform, consult, involve and devolve to local communities.

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