05/03/2008 - Community Chest

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is leading the way for local, councillor-led engagement and improvement with an innovative new scheme.

The Community Chest will enable ward councillors to consult with their communities and local groups to identify small improvements they would like to see made in their neighbourhoods.

Councillors will, following consultation, set out a list of priorities for improvement. This Ward Improvement Plan will form the basis of their submission for funding from the Community Chest.

Their priorities will then be assessed against published criteria to decide whether or not to award funding. Councillors will also be able to allocate funds for some smaller projects themselves.

It is hoped that the Community Chest scheme will help councillors address some of the smaller issues and needs that exist in their communities.

The scheme also seeks to bring people together to make small but important improvements that will add to the quality of local life, under the supervision of local ward councillors.

Welcoming this new scheme, Michel Saminaden, Chief Executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “Depending on the take-up by ward councillors, Community Chest could have a real and lasting impact in our communities by addressing some smaller local needs we have not been able to meet before.”

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