Tell the government your ideas!

The government is inviting local people and councils to tell them what will help their communities to thrive.

Through the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, councils and communities now have the opportunity to put forward new thinking to influence government policy and reverse community decline.

Council leader Mick Henry said: "This act has at its heart, the idea that local people know best what needs to be done to improve their area, but that sometimes they need central government to act to enable them to do so. It provides a channel for local people and the councils which represent them to ask central government to take such action."

Why is it important to Gateshead?

It provides a way for you to ask central government to take action to improve your community and change things you don't like.  This could include such things as:

• the decline of local jobs or businesses;
• a closure of your local Post Office, police station, small shop, GPs surgery;
• lack of affordable housing, local bus service or local, healthy food;
• pollution and climate change; or
• isolation of older people.

The new Act gives you, your neighbours and friends power to tell Government how to help you stop your community declining.

It also allows us, as the local council, to request that we take over the control of powers and spending that affect local areas - currently controlled by the government or government agencies.

How do I get involved?

You need to send your ideas to us by Friday June 26 – and we will take it from there – deciding (with communities) which ones we intend to send on to be considered by the government.

Go to the online form

But you can contact us by phone: 0191 433 3000 or e-mail: customerservices@gateshead.gov.uk| for more information.