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Secretaries of State visit Barnsley to see at first hand how Local Area Agreement targets are being delivered
Caption: Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and James Purnell, Secretary of State for Pensions, are briefed on the Safer Neighbourhoods Initiative at New Lodge Community House by Kate Faulkes, Neighbourhood Manager.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Pensions Secretary James Purnell visited Barnsley on Monday 25th January to discuss the challenges and achievements of delivering the borough’s Local Area Agreement itargets. The Secretaries of State saw how local leaders are making use of devolved powers to support communities, and explained what the government is doing to help.
At Barnsley Digital Media Centre, and at Wombwell and New Lodge, the Secretaries of State met councillors, parents, job seekers and business leaders. They saw how practical measures are being provided to help people through the economic downturn, and how the borough plans to deliver on local priorities around employment, health and crime.
Hazel Blears said the economic downturn showed why the devolution of powers was important. “The fact is that different places will face very different challenges,” she said. “We need local authorities with the confidence and the room for manoeuvre to sort them out.
“In a downturn, Government is deeply concerned about new redundancies, but tackling long-term unemployment remains vital. I want to make sure we're making the most of the huge potential of communities – people coming together to give each other the right encouragement and incentives – to get the whole of Britain working."
Ms Blears and Mr Purnell met carers and parents at Kings Oak primary learning centre and Surestart centre in Wombwell. Here local people can get advice on how to access training, education and work alongside child-care and family support.
At New Lodge the Secretaries of State heard from residents, council managers and police about neighbourhood policing schemes, housing management services and the Stronger Neighbourhoods Initiative. These are helping to turn around their communities and improve the quality of local life.
Berneslai Homes Chief Executive Helen Jaggar outlined the regeneration project being delivered to improve the housing and environment at New Lodge.
The project will provide £18 million of funding to replace poor quality non-traditional housing with new energy efficient homes. Environmental works will provide much needed off road parking and improve personal safety by introducing ‘safe by design’ boundary treatments.
In partnership with Barnsley Community Build there will be many opportunities for local people to gain training and jobs qualifications. The ministers were particularly interested in this initiative and how this will contribute to tackling the worklessness agenda. On their short walk around the estate the ministers were able to see examples of the boundary improvements and demolition of housing that will provide sites for new quality homes.
James Purnell said: "The downturn makes it even more important that we continue to reform the welfare system, with more support matched by higher expectations, so that no-one is written off. If the jobs market is tougher, we must do more, not less, to help people prepare for a return to work.”
He added: “Cities and local government can also make a major contribution through fostering economic development and supporting people back in to work - through initiatives such as the Working Neighbourhoods Fund."
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