Swindon

• Swindon Borough Council has begun an innovative programme called "Connecting People, Connecting Places" to strengthen the role of ward members in local governance and ensure that people are involved in shaping and influencing the future of their local area. Swindon has been grouped into 7 clusters based on ward boundaries. The aim is to raise aspirations, increase trust and demonstrate how the Council and residents can work together to bring about change and improvement. The three objectives are:
  • Promote a sense of community
  • Encourage and promote a more meaningful engagement with ward councillors, people and communities
  • Develop public service delivery that is more locally sensitive
• It is anticipated that the community leadership role of ward councillor will develop as "Connecting People, Connecting Places" moves forward. A learning collaborative of councillors will be formed to understand and develop the skills needed. Part of this will include looking at social networking techniques and ways they might be used by councillors to engage differently and better with communities.