Press Releases

Sustainable Communities Act introduced

Date: 26/02/2009

The Government has introduced the Sustainable Communities Act to give people the opportunity to come up with proposals to improve the place where they live.

High Peak Borough Council want to invite local residents, groups and organisations to put forward proposals on improving the place where they live.

Anyone can suggest a proposal - this could be individually or on behalf of a group, for example a residents and tenants association or a voluntary/community group.

Any proposal must need some form of action from central government such as a change in legislation, a transfer of responsibilities from one public body or another, a new national policy or a change or strengthening of policy.

The Act does not provide any additional funding from central government, so ideas that require additional funding from the Borough Council may not be considered.

Any proposals need to promote one or more of the following areas of sustainability:

Economic Social Environmental well-being Participation in civic or political activity

Councillor Matthew Crompton, Chairman of the Sustainable Communities Act Sub-Committee said: "The introduction of this new legislation provides people in the High Peak with the opportunity to submit proposals that could improve their local community. If any local person, organisation or group has an idea I would urge them to look at the Council's website or contact the Council's call centre to find out further information and proposal form."

Additional details on the Sustainable Communities Act can be found at www.highpeak.gov.uk/neighbourhood/sustain/ or telephone 0845 129 7777 or 01298 28400.

The deadline for all proposals is Friday, April 24, 2009.

Once proposals have been received a representative panel will assess them, to make sure that they meet the criteria set out above, the Council will submit them to the Local Government Association (LGA). It is the LGA's role to consider proposals made under the Act and in co-operation with the Secretary of State, to draw up a short-list.

A final shortlist of proposals will go to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will consult with the LGA and try to reach agreement on which of the proposals on the shortlist should be implemented.