This report builds on the review of support for community capacity building and the responses to the consultation. It embraces both geographical communities, neighbourhoods and parishes, as well as communities of people with a common interest or identity. It identifies the underlying principles and puts forward priority areas for a cross- Government plan of action to support community capacity building more effectively.The review highlighted the fact that the Government will only achieve many of its objectives if it fully involves citizens and communities. This means investing in successful efforts to build the skills, abilities, knowledge and confidence of people and community groups, to enable them to take effective action and play leading roles in the development of their communities. It also means expanding learning and development within public services, so that professionals, practitioners and policy-makers are better equipped to engage with citizens and communities.
Hospitals which meet targets for dealing with accident and emergency patients are to get a financial reward. More than 90 NHS trusts will get 100,000 pounds each under the scheme.The money is going to those hospital trusts that have consistently seen 97 per cent of patients in and out of accident and emergency within four hours or less. They will be able to use the money as extra capital funding to develop services across their hospitals.
Local government leaders say national police service targets should be scrapped and replaced with a flexible system allowing them to tackle the issues that are most important to their local communities. The Local Government Association wants police forces to be made more accountable to communities and, in its response to the Home Office’s consultation on police reform, it urges a joined-up approach to reducing crime and disorder.As well as submitting its own views to the consultation process, the LGA has drawn up a joint response with the Association of Police Authorities, covering issues of mutual interest. Together they say local authorities should decide the appropriate level of councillor representation on police authorities. Consideration should be given to political balance, appropriate weighting between various levels of local government and involvement in and knowledge of community safety issues.
Read more on COUNCILLORS WANT POLICE SERVICE FREED FROM NATIONAL TARGETS…