The Spirit of South Tyneside – is South Tyneside’s combined Community Strategy/Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy/Local Area Agreement. One of the big initiatives we are focussing on in order to improve well being in the Borough is Neighbourhood Working. This means working with residents to develop practical local solutions to local issues in the form of neighbourhood action plans.
Area and Neighbourhood Working Strategy
The strategy sets out a clear vision to deliver area and neighbourhood working and draws heavily on issues that have now formed the basis for many of the reforms outlined in the 2006 Local Government White Paper.
Area Level Working – The Borough is divided into 6 areas, Riverside, East Shields, West Shields, Hebburn, Jarrow and Boldon/Cleadon/Whitburn each comprising a number of wards. A Community Area Forum, which promotes and champions our local communities, is present in each area. Three Area Partnership Coordinators are in post to improve the co-ordination and delivery of mainstream services responsive to local needs. Our Democratic Services work with elected members to enable participation in local democracy at the Area Forums.
Neighbourhood Level Work – Too many of our areas are amongst the most deprived 10% in England. We have identified 19 neighbourhoods in the worst 10% of deprivation nationally. We have made significant progress in addressing key issues in our most deprived areas but even more needs to be done in our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Our Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy plans for the future include the following;
- Developing neighbourhood Action Plans
- Implementing Neighbourhood Management Initiatives in specific areas
- Commissioning a range of neighbourhood renewal projects
- Delivering a number of other Regeneration Initiatives in our Neighbourhoods
All of our neighbourhoods, which are highlighted on the map, will be covered by neighbourhood action plans or neighbourhood management initiatives by the end of 2008/9.
