New neighbourhood-led improvement programme to be considered by senior councillors in Leeds

Under the proposals, the new programme would see council teams and local partners working together with residents to make a visible difference in all 33 wards of the city. This would be based on residents’ priorities and include things like street cleaning, clearing flytipped rubbish and removing graffiti.

The plans are to be discussed by the council’s executive board at its meeting at Civic Hall on Wednesday 16 September, and if approved the programme will begin next month.

The programme is guided by the principle of enabling residents and communities to help shape plans and make decisions about improvements in their local area, supported by the council and other partners and groups in a collaborative way reflecting the ‘#TeamLeeds’ ethos.

The aim is to build on existing relationships and empower local residents to determine how best to improve their own communities, providing a long-term foundation for a more integrated way of working into the future.

The objectives would be to deliver practical improvements for residents to see and feel across the whole city, with a further aim being to help tackle health issues and inequality. To achieve this, council services will make decisions alongside health partners, West Yorkshire Police and third sector groups in partnership with local residents to determine how resources are best allocated.

The operating model would be based on four phases working on a rolling cycle. The first phase would create profiles analysing the existing provision and make-up of each ward. The second would see community engagement and listening carried out to get the views of people of all ages to develop a resident-led action plan for improvements.

Phase three would see co-ordinated works taking place to make the improvements, supported by all partners.

The final phase is focused on ensuring sustainable improvements into the future, providing achievable ways of delivering longer-term works and regular reviews on progress and impact.

Council services directly involved include Housing Leeds, parks and green spaces, highways, Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT), public health, Active Leeds, community hubs, waste management, jobs and skills and volunteering. Partners include West Yorkshire Police and third sector organisations.

The new programme reflects the wider Leeds Ambitions to tackle inequality through health improvements, helping areas to grow, empowering communities to thrive and strengthening resilience across all parts of the city.

Leeds City Council executive member for environment Councillor James Gibson said:

“This new community-led programme is really exciting because it gives local people a real say in shaping their neighbourhoods, bringing residents, council services and partners together to deliver improvements that people will see, feel and benefit from every day.

“We want this to be the beginning of a new way of working in Leeds, with everyone pulling together through the ‘#TeamLeeds’ approach. By supporting local communities and giving people the tools to make a difference, we can help improve neighbourhoods and the lives of those who live in them.”

Subject to executive board approval, further details about the programme will follow including a new dedicated name and identity for it to be used.

To see the report to be considered by the executive board, visit Council and democracy (agenda item 11).

ENDS

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