EDDC signs up to Sustainable Communities Act

East Devon District Council is committed to taking up the opportunities offered by the Sustainable Communities Act.

Although councils do not have a legal duty to support the Act, EDDC has chosen to do so, as it did in 2009, and it is now looking for residents’ help in putting forward proposals for action to central Government.

The Sustainable Communities Act aims to divert power and funding from central government and passes it to councils and local people, giving them a new opportunity to improve their local communities.

Ideas about what government could change to help communities be more sustainable may be submitted by anyone, but they must fit three criteria:

1. They must improve the ‘sustainability’ of the local community. Sustainability can cover anything which improves the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of the area; or promotes participation in civic or political activity. The Act aims to encourage a broad range of ideas.

2. They must require action from central government, such as a change in legislation; a transfer of responsibilities from one public body to another; a new national policy; or a change or strengthening of an existing policy.

3. They must be based within, or of specific relevance to, communities in East Devon.

Anyone can submit proposals - whether you are an individual, voluntary or community group or other organisation.

To find out more, or to submit your proposals visit the Council’s website at: www.eastdevon.gov.uk/sustainablecommunitiesact or you can phone the Community Engagement and Funding Officer on (01395) 517569 to ask for a paper copy of the proposal form to be posted out to you.

All your proposals should be submitted by Friday 18 October 2013. The proposals will then go to a panel of local people to be discussed and short-listed. The short-list will be discussed by one of the Council’s committees before being forwarded onto national Government, who decide which proposals will be implemented.