Community Action Scheme

The Community Action Scheme brings together residents and a range of organisations to tackle housing and environmental issues in a specific area by identifying local priorities and making best use of resources.

Who takes part in the scheme

The Community Action Scheme is led by our Community Action Team (CAT), which includes members of our Community Protection Service, planning, Neighbourhood wardens and housing teams, who work alongside police and community support officers and fire and rescue teams. As well as delivering some level of enforcement, we have a key role in promoting health and healthier lifestyles.

While our members stay involved throughout the programme, other partners may join in the delivery of certain programmes in line with identified problems or issues.

Why this work is happening

We work across the county and provide resources to target particular areas and problems. We use enforcement powers to encourage owners, occupiers and landlords to take responsibility for their neighbourhood and their properties.

How it works

We normally deliver an 11 week rolling programme, moving around the county and focusing on a certain community each time. This breaks down into:

two weeks of identifying issues and planning priorities
seven weeks of action
two weeks of review

When moved on to another area, any new issues are then dealt with by the existing services in the area. This unique project model, working alongside the community to improve local conditions, means that the impact of the Community Action Scheme continues beyond the project period, with residents experiencing longer-term benefits.

What happens

We will ask residents, businesses and members of the local community for input in areas and problems they would like us to tackle.

Information from those involved with the community informs the main priorities chosen by residents during a residents' engagement event at the start of the CAT programme. We then focus on these during our weeks of action.

Our current project

We are preparing to move to Newton Aycliffe (West Ward) between 8 July and 22 September having just spent a successful 11 weeks in Annfield Plain.

We will concentrate on the following streets: Airton Pace; Arncliffe Place; Askrigg Close; Aysgarth Close; Bakewell Place; Bates Close; Booth Walk; Brockett Close; Easkdale Place; Fox Place; Garburn Place; Hawes Place; Hawkshead Place; Honister Place; Keld Road; Kestral Court; Kirkstone Place; Langdale Place; Loraine Walk; Mackenzie Place; Malham Crescent; Marrick Close; Merlin Court; Pateley Close; Reeth Place; Rylestone Close; Sampson Close; Scott Place; Sid Chaplin Drive; Silverdale Place; Skipton Close; Stainforth Close; Thornton Close; Whinlatter Place.