Public Meeting Sleaford

There is a public meeting next Wednesday (Dec 7th)  at the Source starting around 7.00pm. Ward Councillors will be attending. Maybe it is the first stage of the Big Society.

Here is the offical line but basically come along and tell the Council all the things you would like to change.

"TOPSY TURVEY TOWN THINKING.


Sleaford Town Council is to start applying some radical new thinking to identify the needs and skills in the community.

The Council will be adopting elements of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) methods of creating a community Asset Inventory. This challenges the traditional approach to solving urban and rural development problems It focuses service providers and funding agencies on the needs and deficiencies of neighbourhoods, towns and villages. Community assets are key building blocks in sustainable urban and rural community revitalisation efforts.

These community assets include:

 the skills of local residents

 the power of local associations

 the resources of public, private and non-profit institutions.
In a practical sense this means that people called community connectors work in their communities to find out exactly what the community wants and what skills exist.

For Town and parish Councils this is an ideal way to connect directly with their residents.

The first steps will be taken in the Town Meeting on December 7th. The Town Councillors can be considered as community connectors and start to compile an community asset inventory.

Councillors will ask residents :

“What would you like to learn? (individually or as a group)”

“What would you be able to give or teach? (either skills, time, dog walking, part of an unused garden etc).

“What would you like to see in your community?” (Improved services, new groups etc).

This will be the start of forming a community inventory, which will match needs to offers. It is hoped that a future Town Plan will emerge from these first results.

It is the same approach as some organisations such as the U3A, are already taking, but this approach is set to be rolled out nationally.

Charitable organisations and other groups as well as local governments are being encouraged to use this approach. Communities can then start to come together:
A young couple in a flat wanting to grow their own vegetables – could be put together with an older person who can no longer manage their garden. Someone wishes to learn a language – can be put together with someone who speaks it.

An ‘older group’ who collectively with to learn more about computers could be put together with a school project group who have that as a target."