6 design principles for community powered neighbourhood governance
We’re Right Here is a united movement for community power, spanning places and communities across the UK. In their report they’ve articulated a blueprint for community governance. What stands out ar the super helpful 6 design principles for community powered neighbourhood governance. These principles for community-powered governance assure that the neighbors – not bureaucracy nor rules – sit at the heart the governance.
Taking these principles in, and bringing them to your community offers a powerful opportunity to grow agency and ownership. It helps to revitalise local democracy and embed community-powered decision-making in your village, block or neighborhood.
Albeit slightly geared to a UK setting, we think the principles are strong for any community changemaker around the world to take note of. Note that they have been designed by community leaders. What do you think? Should neighbourhood governance guidance you offer centre these six principles?
-1- ‘Real place’-based working
Neighbourhood governance should be shaped around areas that people actually recognise as their neighbourhoods. neighbourhood governance should reflect and respond to the unique character, challenges, and aspirations of this real place. And the people living there are best placed to decide about the borders/boundaries.
-2- Relational governance
Decision-making processes should be enabling and actively support the development of relationships of trust, mutual respect, and shared accountability; Between local people and between local people and institutions.
-3- Equal-basis decision-making
Neighbourhood governance must put residents on an equal footing with councillors and officials. The people and local institutions should exercise shared responsibility for shaping priorities, services and investment decisions.
-4- Integration of existing social infrastructure
Neighbourhood governance must meaningfully include the community groups and organisations already working in, and for, local areas. These groups hold vital local knowledge.
-5- Community-level leadership
Effective neighbourhood governance should be convened from within the community itself. Local leaders chairing the governance should aim at facilitating inclusive, balanced discussion and ensuring the full participation of the community. To ensure the viability and sustainability the local leaders who are taking on the role of chair should hold responsibility for managing the funds allocated to the relevant neighbourhood governance. And the funding should strengthen social cohesion
-6- Real accountability
Community power is only meaningful when it is enforceable. For this reason there should be access to a clear process to redress – enabling all community members to challenge decisions and ensuring that their concerns are heard by an impartial person.
The development of community-powered neighbourhood governance should not require the creation of new layers of costly bureaucracy. Genuinely collaborative neighbourhood committees should reflect and harness the full range of democratic expression which exists within local places – from the agency local people express through their participation in informal groups and formal community organisations.
We hope this sparks your thinking on community-governance.
Please read the full report packed with insights and guidance.
Thanks goes to the collaborators and author of this wonderful report: Right Here, Local Trust, HOPE not hate, and Power to Change, Locality.