Governance & Management

The design of the built environment will be vital to the success of the eco-town, but the way in which people live their lives will ultimately determine whether the eco-town is a strong, cohesive and sustainable community.  Encouraging community empowerment and community ownership are therefore vital in planning an eco-town.

Community Governance in the Eco-town for Leicestershire

The Eco-town for Leicestershire will take a different approach from ordinary town developments:  Whilst working within the normal framework of Local Government, whenever possible public services will be largely community controlled, giving ultimate power to the people for whom the local services are delivered, and who pay for them.

Establishing Governance Structures

Design and Development Panel -  as the process for the development of the eco-town commences, a Design and Development Advisory Panel would be established.  This panel would be chaired by The Co-operative Group, drawing its representatives from relevant interested parties, including local authorities, local housing organisations, environmental groups, the local resident community both new and existing, and the private sector.

Eco-town Community Company - the Design and Development Panel would evolve into the Eco-town Community Company.  This would be a series of individual service-providers operating to a co-operative based sustainable business plan, within a delivery body led by The Co-operative Group.  The Community Company will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the eco-town masterplan is delivered throughout the design and build phase of this development and for the ongoing measurement of its success.

All people would automatically be entitled to have membership of the Eco-town Community Company.  This body would take responsibility for all generic issues, such as community safety, public transport, future planning etc.  Residents of the eco-town would pay a service charge to the Eco-town Community Company, which would provide funding for services within the town. Over time control of the community company would pass to the community.