Community involvement UK news 2008




 * Government announces review of councils' publicity rules, December 17 According to CLG, Communities Secretary "Hazel Blears believes that information is fundamental to the health of local democracy, so that citizens are aware of how decisions are made at the local level, who is making them and, crucially, how they can influence those decisions."


 * Government publishes 'empowerment' White Paper, July 9 comment, forum


 * Communities and Local Government publish local priorities website, June 30 Top 20 priorities across England: in fifth place - 100 out of 150 local areas choosing this - Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the LA area; in 12th place - 85 out of 150 local areas choosing this - per cent of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality. topic


 * Just 38 per cent of respondents to the Citizenship Survey (April 2007 - March 2008) felt able to influence decisions in their local area whilst only 39 per cent of people were involved in some kind of civic participation such as attending a public meeting, signing a local petition or contacting a local councillor. The findings tally closely with data from this year's local elections which showed average voter turnout at around 40 per cent or less.


 * Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson announces a new Task Force to take forward proposals in the Power of Information report, March 31


 * "Local Strategic Partnerships or Local Service Boards are not sufficiently local or connected to the community to allow effective community involvement." Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First by Dave Adamson and Richard Bromiley of the University of Glamorgan is published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. March 11


 * White Paper launch document 'Unlocking the Talent of our Communities' published, March 5


 * Launch of Alliance for Lobbying Transparency, January 25


 * Community contracts to be piloted in twelve areas across the country, January 22

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