Eastleigh’s Approach to Area Working The Borough of Poole Community Engagement Best Practice Day 26 July 2012 Diccon Bright Eastleigh Borough Council

31 square miles in area with population of around 125,000 High home and car ownership (80/85%) Low ethnic minority population Low unemployment (2%)

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Southern Parishes Includes some of most affluent areas and some of most deprived (bordering Southampton) Strong Parish Council presence and influence

Hedge End, West End and Botley Three large and active Parish Councils Home to Hampshire County Cricket Site for potential development Politically very active

Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Collection of ‘ribbon’ villages Mixed housing Youth issues dominate local agenda

Eastleigh Town Declining railway & manufacturing industry Strategic Employment Zone Good air and rail links Town Centre regeneration High density new development Remaining un-parished area

Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury Highest and lowest wage earners in Borough High proportion of commuters Low crime. Low unemployment. Low tolerance. High number of latch key children New parishes

Local Area Committees ‘Taking Local Decisions at a Local Level’ Committee dominated by decisions around planning Ability to determine local level of service Drives capital programme Public participation and engagement Strong focus on health, transport and community safety issues

Area Co-Ordinators Strengthen link between elected Members, Service Heads and the community Monitor revenue and capital budget Provide link to corporate priorities via Management Team Take macro view on area planning across all services Link to parishes and other partners Asset Transfers

Local budget example Committee and staff costs£150k Projects£70k Devolved budgets£560k Discretionary£25k Total£805k

What we do well Public participation Delivering capital schemes Mediation Community Safety Drive and influence priorities from the bottom up Service planning to reflect local need

What could we do better? Engagement of young people and agencies Maximise influence corporately Securing external funding Communications and Identity