Listening to our Residents
Quicklinks to Community Plan:
What you told us
The Community Plan was written after talking and listening to over 3,000 residents, local groups and businesses to find out what they thought of the borough. We wanted to know what was important to them, and what they thought the main issues were for the area. One of the strongest messages we received was that the priority for many people was to create a better life for their family.
However, there were also a number of themes which many people agreed on: the need to improve the look and feel of the borough; the need to improve social care and delivery of the health service; the need to deal with anti-social behavior; and the need to improve recycling.
One Dagenham family that we spoke to complained about the Council’s recycling scheme. They had made an effort to find out about the glass recycling scheme and how to use it. As they were worried about leaving the box outside, and children using the bottles as missiles, the family contacted the Council to find out the collection date. However, on collection day, their box was missed, and wasn’t collected for another two weeks. This family was prepared to make an effort to find out about the glass recycling scheme, and how to use it, but late collection harms the Council’s reputation, and makes the success of the recycling scheme less likely.
The same family was generally complimentary about many of the health services on offer, but in some cases they found it difficult to get important information, and got the impression that many of the services didn’t communicate with each other. For example, while a blood test had been arranged for an elderly relative, it was unclear what the test was for and who had ordered it.
Many people we spoke with described their experiences of anti-social behaviour, which included fights, intimidation by groups, and aggressive behaviour on public transport. A number of people felt that incidents of anti-social behaviour were high, and that community police, street wardens, and the police were not being active enough in dealing with these incidents.
The people of Barking and Dagenham want to feel safe; they expect excellent public services; and they want to take pride in the areas in which they live. The Partnership needs to show that they are listening, and taking action to improve existing services and address the issues that are being raised.
What we're doing
You said:
‘Our first priority should be children. There should be more freeactivities for them to take part in as they are our future.’
What we’re doing:
Free swimming introduced in the borough as part of a joint effort between the Council and Primary Care Trust to get young people active.
You said:
‘…more local events to bring communities together.’
What we’re doing:
The Rising Star Awards is a ceremony to award children and young people who live, study or work in the borough aged between 10 and 19. There are 11 different nomination categories that they can be nominated to win - Sportsperson, Musician or Band, Health Champion, Young Volunteer, Safer Community, Young Achiever, Academic, Carer Recognition, Green Award, Courage Award, Supporting your Community. Nominations were sought from members of the public, Voluntary Sector, NHS Barking and Dagenham and Local Authority staff.
Hosting an awards evening is an opportunity to showcase children and young people in the borough and acknowledge the huge contribution they make to their local areas. The awards evening will award children and young people for the effort they havemade and also evidence the local authority commitment to Every Child Matters.
You said:
‘Promoting green objectives and practicing green policies in our own organisations.’
What we’re doing:
Implementing energy saving initiatives in Council buildings; developing a Council Climate Change Strategy; piloting electric vehicles; establishing a car club; assisting in the provision of a heat main for Barking Town Centre which will connect not only with new developments but also Council buildings and provide low cost heat.
You said:
‘I support a borough with improved skills and opportunities. Young ones are growing up in the borough with no hope of getting a job.’
What we’re doing:
The creation of voluntary sector led job shops to target disadvantaged groups into training and employment programmes to increase household income and future career aspirations. In addition, we have developed more job brokerage schemes, plusapprenticeships and specialised diplomas.
You said:
‘Concentrate on crime. This is people’s main concern.’
What we’re doing:
Working with the police, local residents, elected members and voluntary and community groups on estate based joint initiatives to decrease crime and anti-social behaviour and give pride in estates back to local residents.
You said:
‘B & D must become a business-friendly borough.’
What we’re doing:
Establishing new start up business space and move on space for expanding small enterprises; assisting with improving the environment of industrial areas; assisting with improving access to industrial areas.