Community Action Scheme

The Community Action Scheme brings together residents and a range of organisations to tackle housing and environmental issues in a specific area by identifying local priorities and making best use of resources.

Who takes part in the scheme

The Community Action Scheme is led by our Community Action Team (CAT), which includes members of our Community Protection Service, planning, Neighbourhood wardens and housing teams, who work alongside police and community support officers and fire and rescue teams. As well as delivering some level of enforcement, we have a key role in promoting health and healthier lifestyles.

While our members stay involved throughout the programme, other partners may join in the delivery of certain programmes in line with identified problems or issues.

Why this work is happening

We work across the county and provide resources to target particular areas and problems. We use enforcement powers to encourage owners, occupiers and landlords to take responsibility for their neighbourhood and their properties.

How it works

We normally deliver an 11 week rolling programme, moving around the county and focusing on a certain community each time. This breaks down into:

two weeks of identifying issues and planning priorities
seven weeks of action
two weeks of review

When moved on to another area, any new issues are then dealt with by the existing services in the area. This unique project model, working alongside the community to improve local conditions, means that the impact of the Community Action Scheme continues beyond the project period, with residents experiencing longer-term benefits.

What happens

We will ask residents, businesses and members of the local community for input in areas and problems they would like us to tackle.

Information from those involved with the community informs the main priorities chosen by residents during a residents' engagement event at the start of the CAT programme. We then focus on these during our weeks of action.

Our next project

We are preparing to move to Cockton Hill in Bishop Auckland between 2 October and 17 December.

Why not give us your views by attending one of the following drop in sessions:

Wednesday 4 October 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Monday 9 October 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 October 09.30am to 11.00am

Alternatively fill in the following survey Give us your views on issues in Cockton Hill..

Streets covered by the project

The team will work in the following streets: Alderson Street; Arran court; Arthur Terrace; Ashcroft Gardens; Barnett Avenue; Beaumont Street; Bell Street; Brewer Street; Byron Avenue; Chatsworth Avenue; Cleveland Avenue; Cockton Hill Road; Conway Grove; Craddock Street; Duke Street; Fleet Street; Frances Terrace; Helena Terrace; High Melbourne Street; Hurworth Street; James Street; Kensington; Kensington South; Low Melbourne Street; McIntyre Terrace; Milton Avenue; Newlands Avenue; Northumberland Avenue; Oaklea Terrace, Peacock Court; Percy Street; Raby Gardens; Ravensworth Avenue; Rutland Avenue; Seymour Street; Short Street; St Andrews Road; Tivoli Place; Waddington Street; Westfield Road; Woodhouse Lane; Wordsworth Avenue.