The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal (NSNR) (2001-2008) provided the main policy context for the work of LSPs in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) areas. Ambitious goals were set at the launch of the Strategy Action Plan in 2001, demanding effective action across central government and mobilisation of local partner organisations and interests.
National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: Vision and Goals |
Vision: “Within 10 to 20 years, no-one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live. People on low incomes should not have to suffer conditions and services that are failing, and so different from what the rest of the population receives” Long-term goals: which promote both absolute improvement in conditions in the worst neighbourhoods and a reduction in disparities: “In all the poorest neighbourhoods, to have common goals of lower worklessness and crime, better health, skills, housing and physical environment.” “To narrow the gap on these measures between the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.” |
The National Strategy Action Plan set out imperatives to improve, eg:
leadership and joint working (with an emphasis on ‘joining up’ strategies and actions both horizontally and vertically, involving neighbourhood, district, regional and national levels)
community engagement, ensuring that local needs and priorities are to the fore, and that residents have the tools to get involved in whatever way they want
accountability amongst agencies for service improvement and neighbourhood renewal
The Action Plan incorporated the pre-existing New Deal for Communities programme and included several important policy innovations such as LSPs, NRF, floor targets (see below), Neighbourhood Management pathfinders (to explore approaches to joining up services at neighbourhood level) and the Community Empowerment Fund (to support community and voluntary sector involvement in LSPs and the delivery of neighbourhood renewal).
The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) was provided by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to LSPs in the most deprived local authority areas. The funding was channelled through local authorities.and amounted to a total budget of £2.925 billion over 2001-2008.
