A Civic Contract - questions for motorists in Westminster

Westminster City Council has launched a consultation paper that sets out a new vision for the running of the city and how public services will be delivered. At its heart lies civic responsibility, the idea that everyone who lives, visits or works in the city can contribute to making it a successful place.

Titled A Civic Contract for Westminster, the paper sets out the council’s ambitious response to the challenges currently facing local government, including growing financial pressures, working with limited resources and coping with high levels of unemployment, whilst taking forward the opportunities presented by the new Localism Act to enable communities to genuinely take responsibility for their areas. .

The Civic Contract outlines new ideas for residents, businesses and communities in managing the city and delivering public services, and in doing so creates a potential model for the future of local public service delivery across the country.

This document is for public consultation which will take place between 12th December 2011 and 10th February 2012. The Council will then set out a programme of work to take forward these ideas in early March 2012.

You can participate in the Civic Contract for Westminster consultation by filling out our online survey. This is your chance to tell us how we can shape the city that you live in.

To make it easier for you to answer only the questions which are relevant to you as a motorist, we have summarised the key issues below, and created a short version of the questionnaire, dealing only with these issues, here.

Summary

A role for all in managing the city

In Westminster we have 206 miles of public highway; we collect 250 tonnes of waste a year and the council spends £52 million a year on managing the city. This includes collecting waste, street enforcement and repairing the roads.

The council has legal duties to ensure that the streets are kept clean and tidy, and that the city is well managed. This is important to ensure that the city remains a great place to live, work and visit. Through services from waste collection to parking, we aim to create a city that supports the success of our local businesses and residential communities.

The outcomes we’re seeking

• A stronger role for residents and businesses in the management of the public realm, by involving them in the delivery of services and creating a mutual sense of civic ownership.
• The taxpayer doesn’t have to spend as much public money in keeping the city clean and tidy because people are playing their own part

Questions for motorists

• How can we use the way in which we manage the public realm to encourage other positive behaviours? For example, is it more important to implement pedestrian schemes that encourage people to use local high streets, or to provide casual parking so that people can drive there?
• Are you concerned that giving groups of residents and businesses more control over public spaces might reduce accountability and lead to a less accessible city?

To answer just these questions, answer the survey here

To answer more questions relating to the management of the city, please read the whole Civic Contract paper here, and answer the full survey here.  In completing this survey please refer to the consultation document. This gives the background information you need to answer the questions.

If you have any questions or would like to receive a paper copy please contact Pinal Tafader on ptafader@westminster.gov.uk or call on 020 7641 2540.