Neighbourhood Action Plans - Essay Example

Neighbourhood action plans NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PLANS GRACE SARKAR Order No. 339666 28 November 2009 NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PLANS Task A The Hyndburn Borough Council is among the better managed councils in England. There are few issues that appear as problems of significance. The entire region within the jurisdiction of the council is well managed socially and economically. However, there does appear to be problems in the crime, jobs, and house sectors where a section of a minority community appears not to be doing so well. Likewise, the national, regional and local policies on Sustainable Communities, Community Development, and Regeneration and Neighbourhood Renewal are generally based on sound principles bearing in mind the needs of the specific regions. As a nation, Britain does not have a written constitution which makes issues complex or simple depending on the nature of the issues involved. For instance, the housing problems are growing acute in regions occupied by the minority group of Asian Pakistanis. There are, however, no similar problems faced in the locations occupied by the majority white population or other minority Asians of Indian origin or other minority groups. This may mean either the council authorities in these area are deliberately sidelining Asian Pakistani groups as they are from the lower level of income group or the authorities face resource crunch and the said group is in no position to alleviate the problem faced by the local authorities (The Housing Needs of Black &Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities in Hyndburn). Britain is among the leaders in technologically advanced countries and Lancashire is bound to be affected along with the rest of the nation due to changes technologically brought about in accordance with policy changes year after year. Environmentally, Britain is among the top industrialized nations that has poor record of carbon emissions. So, any changes for the better must come from the top national leadership and the local council is not in position to dictate terms. The local council cannot make national policies although they can make their views felt. 92% of the population is white, and there is almost no problem in the places where they reside and work. The changes in national and regional policies do not affect this population as such policies are worked out pragmatically for the better. Policies involving housing, economy, social issues, and important institutions such as schools, hospitals, and civic offices are framed to suit the majority of the white population and other ethnic groups that are well off. The planning of townships and environmental factors are carried out by experts in the field and executed by the Hyndburn Borough Council. In such instances, there may be teething problems such as the interiors or plumbing materials used may not suit certain occupants and may require to be changed. The majority of planning and execution may not require changes in these circumstances. No changes are required in either crime statistics or economic issues as these are capably dealt with by the authorities. However, changes are needed in environmental factors and issues confronting the minority group of Asian Pakistanis. It is left to the wisdom of the Council to effect changes required which is largely attitudinal and any suggestion for changes can only be preliminary since no outsider could effectively suggest changes in Neighbourhood Action Plan that the local council feels cannot work. Task B Britain is a country that respects laws. The British are prudish about their laws. They will not allow their laws to be taken for granted. Nonetheless, in the changing times it is necessary to modify laws in view of new situations and circumstances. Policy changes are done at the national level and this makes it necessary to keep abreast of the new developments. This also makes it necessary for local councils to remain in touch with their regional authorities and get updates about the latest developments on legislative issues and policies. The main issues Hyndburn Borough Council is grappling with are crime, jobs and housing sectors. Fortunately in Britain, the past decade has witnessed healthy coordination between the police force and the local, civil population. Criminal tendencies are being curbed by enthusiastic counseling of the vulnerable youth by members of the local public under the aegis of the police force. Youth counseling has been responsible in bringing down crime levels by at least 20% in the past few years. Nonetheless, it is wishful thinking to imagine crime can be brought down to the zero-level even in spite of best efforts. Crime has many forms. It is difficult to curb organized crime through efforts of counseling. However, it is possible to curb people, especially youngsters, to a great extent through counseling. Youngsters, especially from disturbed background, are vulnerable to criminal tendencies. Job prospects in Hyndburn Borough Council area appear to be moderately placed. However, people here foresee their children leaving for better prospects elsewhere. The minority community of Asian Pakistanis is especially vulnerable to this category and this region does not appear to have large industries that have the potential to increase job prospects. Nonetheless, the Hyndburn Borough "comprised of Accrington and the surrounding Market Towns, is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of regeneration which is delivering real and substantial improvements to the quality of life in the area" (Hyndburn Borough Council Homepage). Despite the positive outlook provided by the Council, the job sector is not as sanguine as it is made out to be. The residents here tend to migrate for better job opportunities. The job market comprises middle level economies such as groceries, restaurants, shopping malls, realties and beauty salons. Undoubtedly these outlets are good places to work. And they exist in large numbers in the Hyndburn Borough Council region. But they have their limits. They cannot absorb workers in large numbers. In the housing sector, there are problems in places where people of Asian Pakistani origin reside that need looking into. The Asian Pakistani is a distinct culture and they will not assimilate with the mainstream culture. They live in close-knit family groups and are not sure if their children will choose to live separately when they turn adults. They live in large houses but the interiors are not designed to suit the residents. The bath and toilet are built on the upper floor and it becomes difficult to climb up every time one wants to visit the bathroom/toilet, especially when one is aged. "There are other factors such as low paid jobs; people are unable to spend money on houses because of their financial circumstances" (The Housing Needs of Black &Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities in Hyndburn). The average annual household income of Asian Pakistani is 14,850 as compared to the White British which is 22,651. Such financial constraints make it difficult for the residents to arrange for repairs to be carried out or the Council to facilitate the desired changes. Task 3 The British policies and strategy on regeneration and renewal are pragmatic. They act fast once decisions are reached on regeneration and renewal of properties. The Hyndburn Borough Council has a fair mix of black and minority ethnic communities comprising mainly Asian Pakistanis and Asian Indians. The Pakistanis outnumber other minority ethnic groups. They are also the ones to face maximum problems. The Council appears to be slow to the complaints made by Pakistanis. As regards other minority communities such as Indians, the problem does not appear to be unduly worrying and the Indians are quite well of when compared to the Pakistanis. Therefore, the need to interact with Pakistanis to get the correct picture of how well the Council is performing assumes importance. The problem appears to be the expectation of the minority group that the Council is responsible for regeneration and renewal of properties. This lackadaisical approach to the problem is met with indifference on the part of the Council. In the process, either the residents suffer due to lack of amenities or the building is demolished for reconstruction without allowing time for the residents to make appropriate alternative arrangements (The Housing Needs of Black &Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities in Hyndburn). The success of the Council is dependent on the way the low-earning Pakistanis are treated. I am not blaming the Council for lacking civic sense or the willingness to engage quickly enough to respond to complains and suggestions made by the Pakistani group. This community must raise their income level through education and training. This is critically important to gain the recognition and respect of the local authorities. A community with low income will naturally find it difficult to communicate with the relevant authorities who are on the lookout for educated and high-level income earning families to deal with. The Council will not go on providing grants, and they will certainly prevaricate on making grants to communities who decidedly choose to live on low-level. For any regeneration and renewal work in the city, it is important for the council to work as partners of the community. The Council then put development of such properties on slow tract. The result is a blot on the national claim of equal treatment to all communities. However, there is no alternative since the community in question is satisfied with low-level incomes. The Council must engage the community to upgrade their income levels. Change in living conditions cannot be done on the expenses of the public exchequer. Nevertheless, the Council must act in a time-bound manner. The community must be given enough time to upgrade their activities to improve its economy. For instance, the Council could provide grants for ten years to the more needy cases on a reducing scale. The community must make efforts to raise their standard of living by education and upgrading the skills of their youth. Ultimately, progress is a two-way thing. It involves the residents as much as the Council. The residents must pay for the changes they are looking at. The Council must take appropriate steps to effect changes at minimum cost. Sources: Accrington Acorn Primary Health Care Centre, http://www.eastlancspct.nhs.uk/patients/premises/health-centres/accrington-acorn/ Hyndburn Borough Council, http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfmPlace_ID=29786 Hyndburn Borough Council Homepage, http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/site/index.php The Housing Needs of Black &Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities in Hyndburn, http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloads/Combined_BME_Focus_Group_and_Housing_Needs_Assessment.pdf West Accrington, BB5 1RT, Lancashire, http://maps.google.com/mapshl=en&rlz=1W1SKPB_en&q=West+Accrington,+BB5+1RT,+Lancashire&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Accrington,+Lancashire+BB5+1RT,+UK&ei=NIoOS5b7JoiBkQXT5c2iBw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAsQ8gEwAA Read More