Anne Power and Emmet Bergin

Published December 1999

The way we run urban neighbourhoods in Britain is a key to reversing social exclusion, crime and poor performance on almost every front in our cities. This study for the Social Exclusion Unit of seven models of neighbourhood management analyses the reason for its key position in the national strategy for neighbourhood renewal. We explore the need for it, its function and remit. It hinges on three core ideas: someone in charge at neighbourhood level to ensure reasonable conditions and co-ordinate the many inputs already flowing into neighbourhoods; the practical relevance of the core idea across almost any area; the immediate and longer-term impacts on conditions of a clearly focussed, truly local neighbourhood management service. To work well, there must be a dedicated budget, a senior manager in control locally, immediate security and environmental targets, resident involvement. The costs are relatively modest but must be properly funded; the benefits are indispensable as the experiments show and continental experience underlines.