Getting Involved in Your Community
The Localism and
Decentralisation Bill received Royal Assent on 15 November
2011, becoming an Act of Parliament:
Localism Act 2011.
Localism is a major part of the coalition
government’s programme and sets the foundations for the ‘Big
Society’, through which the government is seeking to promote
a more active, participatory approach to democracy.
The stated aim of the Localism Act 2011
is to “reverse years of creeping state control” and shift
power from central government back into the hands of individuals,
communities and councils - allowing local people the freedom to run
their lives and neighbourhoods in their own way.
This Act is major piece of legislation
affecting a wide range of existing housing, planning and local
government legislation.
Active in your community
Local government plays a leading role in
revitalising communities and improving the economic, social
and environmental well-being of an area.
Dover District Council helps shape local life
by providing a variety of services for our residents, visitors and
people working in the district. The Council also works in
partnership with a wide range of agencies to influence public
services beyond its control and responsibility to respond to the
needs of the district.
For example, the Council plays a significant
role in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and is involved in
developing strategies to improve the health of the local population
through our partnerships with the police and local health
authorities. The council's planning and regeneration policies also
influence the business in the area and the state of the local
economy.
Dover District Council is committed to
listening to our residents and finding ways to
inform, consult and involve you in planning and
delivering council services, and in the issues that affect the
quality-of-life in your community.
To be able to influence decisions and service
delivery it is important you understand how the Council works, the
decisions we make and our responsibilities.
We want to encourage and support residents to
become more active in their community, having your say on
local issues, taking part in decisions that affect you
and making things happen. By becoming actively involved
in tackling the things that need to change around you are able
to improve the quality of life in your local community.
We recognise, and value, that many people are
already active in the Dover district, giving up hours of their time
to make life better for themselves, their neighbours and their
communities.
There are so many ways to become more
involved in the district, both big and small. For example:
- Voting in local elections
- Taking part in surveys
- Attending community meetings, such as the Dover District
Neighbourhood Forums
- Helping a neighbour with their shopping
- Recycling
- Organising community events
- Volunteering for a charity or community group
- Participating in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme
- Becoming a member of a residents group
- Forming community action groups
- Acting as a trustee or school governor
Signpost to ways of getting involved
Localism Act 2011
Big Society
Help us to help you – become active in your community
Better engagement = better decisions = better services =
better communities.
Only by knowing what you want from us can we work to provide the
best possible services in the district.
Decisions made by Dover District Council affect all residents in
the district. Your views will be used to inform local
decisions and, in the end, shape the way in which we achieve the
ambitions of the Dover District Council Corporate Plan and
Sustainable Community Strategy.
Use your chance to influence the way your Council works
for you.
Further information
Volunteering for
Civic Roles: Information for employers and employees
The Department for Communities and Local
Government has produced a guidance document (31 March 2010)
providing information about volunteering for a variety of civic
roles to enable people to make informed decisions about whether
they would like to participate in decision making in their
communities. It outlines the benefits for volunteers, employers and
the wider community.
Regeneration
to enable growth: What the Government is doing in support of
community-led regeneration ()
This document from the Department for Communities and Local
Government confirms the government's commitment to regeneration and
explains the approach of supporting and encouraging local
authorites and residents to drive local regeneration through a wide
range of powers, incentives, freedoms and flexibilities through
decentralisation, localism and the Big Society.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872314
Email: policy@dover.gov.uk
