The Home Office has announced that three areas of Flintshire have been selected from over 100 applications as one of just 12 Neighbourhood Agreement Pathfinder areas across England and Wales.
The areas are Saltney, Flint Cornist and Sealand Manor.
The scheme means that Flintshire County Council, in partnership with North Wales Police, will be involved in developing neighbourhood agreements between residents, local service providers and elected representatives that aim to improve conditions, such as promoting healthy living or cleaner and greener issues.
These agreements will provide a channel for communities and local partnerships to negotiate and agree local standards of service and priorities for action across the community safety and justice agendas, including anti-social behaviour.
The 12 Pathfinders selected represent sites of different sizes with a mix of urban and rural, high and low levels of public confidence, anti-social behaviour, partnership working and community engagement. This will provide an opportunity to compare results and outcomes of a consistent approach across differing neighbourhoods.
Flintshire County Council in partnership with North Wales Police will receive £5,000 for the scheme, that will help promote community engagement.
Supt Rob Kirman, Eastern Division, North Wales Police said:
“Flintshire Community Safety Partnership is very pleased to have been accepted as one of 12 pathfinder areas for the new neighbourhood agreements. As a partnership we are committed to giving our communities the very best service we can and this exciting new approach will give us and local communities the opportunity to build on the excellent work already being delivered across the county.”
Dr Paul McGreary, Head of Public Protection, Flintshire County Council said:
“The award of Pathfinder Status is a reflection of the really positive and constructive partnership we have in Flintshire and will help the Partnership to build on its successes and continue to make Flintshire a safe place to live, work and play.”
The new agreements will give local communities the chance to work in partnership with the Police and the Council at the same time and enable them to have a say on how issues in their area are tackled. This will be an important way of helping to place communities at the heart of service delivery.
