Areas hardest hit by the recession are to get grants of £50,000 to help find creative ways to reduce the negative impact of empty shops in high streets. Many high streets in areas of high deprivation are seeing empty shops boarded up because of the downturn, which is impacting on consumer and business confidence. The grants will allow the shops to be re-opened as facilities for communities.
Housing associations are demonstrating that they have the financial capacity to survive the downturn without adversely impacting on delivering services to tenants. Their actions in managing their businesses have enabled them to withstand the turbulence in the financial markets. The Association?s watchdog, the Tenant Services Authority, said they are thriving in the continuing difficult housing and credit market conditions.
Read more on HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS WEATHERING THE STORM OF RECESSION…
People feel less empowered, but believe cohesion in their neighbourhood is increasing according to the Citizenship Survey from Communities and Local Government.
In the year ending March 2009, 39 per cent of people felt they could influence decisions in their local area compared to 44 per cent in 2001. At the national level 22 per cent of people felt they could influence decisions affecting Great Britain compared to 25 per cent in 2001.
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