First Community Assembly puts residents’ priorities into action
Falkirk Council’s first Community Assembly has brought residents and community representatives together to help shape how local services develop.
Despite storm Boelo more than 40 people took part at Forth Valley College on Saturday 24 October, bringing together individual residents and representatives from community councils, local groups and organisations, with the Council’s Clean Green Action Team providing the focus for the first Assembly.
Hosted by the Communities team, Community Assemblies are designed to give local people the chance to explore issues in more depth, hear different perspectives and have a greater say in how services respond to local priorities.
The first Assembly builds on what residents have already told the Council about keeping their communities clean.
During previous budget consultation, residents called for more intensive action on issues including fly-tipping, litter and graffiti. In response, the Council created the Clean Green Action Team and allocated £800,000 in year 1 for the creation of the new service.
Saturday’s Assembly provided officers from Environment & Operations the opportunity to introduce the Team as well as showcase examples of the positive works already undertaken by the new service. After an update and presentations, residents and community representatives took part in interactive workshops to help determine how the new service develops and where its efforts should be focused.
Feedback included support for joint working between the Clean Green Action Team and community groups and individuals – in particular, clean-ups, quicker action on fly-tipping and tidying up of local spaces including clearing of footpaths and pruning of trees. Better communication and greater support for volunteers and community groups also emerged as one of the top priorities.
The findings will now be used to further develop the Clean Green Action Team and how it works with communities.
Acting Leader of Falkirk Council, Councillor Paul Garner, said:
Community Assemblies are about giving people a real opportunity to influence the services and issues that affect their communities.
"We want to go further than simply asking people for their views. We want people to be part of the discussion, tell us what matters to them and help us decide what happens next.
"We’ve started with Clean Green Action Team because residents have already told us they want more action on litter, fly-tipping and graffiti. We listened, created a new team and invested £800,000 in it. Now we’re asking communities to help us develop that response.
“This is our first Community Assembly, but it won’t be our last. It shows that when people take part in our budget engagement and share their views, they can make a real difference.
Future Community Assemblies are planned, with topics still to be determined.
You can take part in the budget engagement via the Participate Plus platform.