Post by Mitch on Jun 21, 2005 9:31:48 GMT
If our goal is to move towards gathering residents together in our own areas, autonomous of the council, consisting of residents fighting for themselves and a better life in their own communities - then perhaps the first step is to look at what exists already around us in terms of action groups, their politics, and whether they actually are residents groups.
They may simply be groups run by councillors, or individuals who have aspirations to be local councillors. There is now I think in the area a large number of so called residents groups which are actually run by a very small number of people, speaking on behalf of residents in a very top down way.
Or they have turned themselves into charities for funding, and must fulfil agendas or conditions of becoming a charity - so their autonomy and challenge is compromised.
The exception of course is the Piccadily Road Moving Lobby - and I'm looking into how we can support them more with Sal.
Priorities initially I think should be to find out more about these groups below, and also to see how we can help the Piccadily Road Residents Group, as they (A LARGE GROUP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS!) have already been making strong, autonomous challenges to Burnley Borough Council, protesting against so called regeneration plans in that area - ie. knocking down houses and dividing a community, with many residents who have lived in their houses for over 20 years.
Also, the next step should be to understand clearly how central government is working through local government on housing policy and to have a clear understanding of what the following are:
Elevate East Lancashire
Housing Renewal
What Housing Associations and Private Partners are being brought in to work with them.
Pathfinder Housing projects - what are they, and where are they operating in the area.
There's more - and I'll be doing a bit of research into this for the next post in this section.
Top priority is finding out what the Piccadily Road Group are doing, how we can help, and what their plans are moving forward.
_____________
www.communigate.co.uk/lancs/crag/index.phtml
Cloverhill Residents Action Group
Oh dear, as we learnt at the weekend there are residents groups currently in situ that don't appear to be doing very much ACTION.
There's a need to talk with residents in Nelson and think about sitting up something new.
__________________
uk.geocities.com/colnecentreresidents
Colne Residents Group
A waffle of inaction - one to look into thismachinebleeds??
_____________
www.communigate.co.uk/lancs/412519/index.phtml
Brunshaw Action Group
Website seems to have folded - needs more research into what activities they have been involved in.
______________
www.burnleywood.com/index.htm
Burnley Wood Community Action Group
Umm, this one is particularly interesting. Closely aligned to council controlled funding umbrellas like Burnley Community Network and Burnley and Padiham Community Alliance, they seem to be operating in consultation with such groups. Again, it looks to me quite hierarchical, plus urr Brian Fenn's own website looks a little perturbing!! (check out the link for yourself).
They have presented petitions to Burnley Borough Council, outlining strong objections to regeneration plans by them (see link to the council's reply to their petition). The council are counteracting with accusations that it's just a small number of people/residents that are speaking for a large number of residents. We should be making contact with this group to find out more.
Links should be made with this group to get more of an understanding of what they've been upto. They have sought charity status which will influence their autonomy, and I'd suggest dumb down challenges to the council.
They may simply be groups run by councillors, or individuals who have aspirations to be local councillors. There is now I think in the area a large number of so called residents groups which are actually run by a very small number of people, speaking on behalf of residents in a very top down way.
Or they have turned themselves into charities for funding, and must fulfil agendas or conditions of becoming a charity - so their autonomy and challenge is compromised.
The exception of course is the Piccadily Road Moving Lobby - and I'm looking into how we can support them more with Sal.
Priorities initially I think should be to find out more about these groups below, and also to see how we can help the Piccadily Road Residents Group, as they (A LARGE GROUP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS!) have already been making strong, autonomous challenges to Burnley Borough Council, protesting against so called regeneration plans in that area - ie. knocking down houses and dividing a community, with many residents who have lived in their houses for over 20 years.
Also, the next step should be to understand clearly how central government is working through local government on housing policy and to have a clear understanding of what the following are:
Elevate East Lancashire
Housing Renewal
What Housing Associations and Private Partners are being brought in to work with them.
Pathfinder Housing projects - what are they, and where are they operating in the area.
There's more - and I'll be doing a bit of research into this for the next post in this section.
Top priority is finding out what the Piccadily Road Group are doing, how we can help, and what their plans are moving forward.
_____________
www.communigate.co.uk/lancs/crag/index.phtml
Cloverhill Residents Action Group
Oh dear, as we learnt at the weekend there are residents groups currently in situ that don't appear to be doing very much ACTION.
There's a need to talk with residents in Nelson and think about sitting up something new.
__________________
uk.geocities.com/colnecentreresidents
Colne Residents Group
A waffle of inaction - one to look into thismachinebleeds??
_____________
www.communigate.co.uk/lancs/412519/index.phtml
Brunshaw Action Group
Website seems to have folded - needs more research into what activities they have been involved in.
______________
www.burnleywood.com/index.htm
Burnley Wood Community Action Group
Umm, this one is particularly interesting. Closely aligned to council controlled funding umbrellas like Burnley Community Network and Burnley and Padiham Community Alliance, they seem to be operating in consultation with such groups. Again, it looks to me quite hierarchical, plus urr Brian Fenn's own website looks a little perturbing!! (check out the link for yourself).
They have presented petitions to Burnley Borough Council, outlining strong objections to regeneration plans by them (see link to the council's reply to their petition). The council are counteracting with accusations that it's just a small number of people/residents that are speaking for a large number of residents. We should be making contact with this group to find out more.
Links should be made with this group to get more of an understanding of what they've been upto. They have sought charity status which will influence their autonomy, and I'd suggest dumb down challenges to the council.