A COMMUNITY leader from Bolton is lobbying the government to help communities across the country to have a say in how their neighbourhoods are run.
Inayat Omarji MBE is one of six community leaders nationally to head up the campaign group We’re Right Here.
The group’s goal is to spread the power and decision-making concerning how local communities are run, so that the people who exist there and are already part of making them better every day can have a say.
Mr Omarji said: “We’re all volunteers. We are giving our time up to say we’ve got experience of when we’ve battled against the grain to make a difference and we know others are doing the same.”
They have presented a proposal for a new piece of legislation called the Community Power Act, which will attempt to spread the power in three ways.
Establishing three new community rights
- Communities to have the right of first refusal once buildings and spaces with significant community value come up for sale.
- Collaboration between communities and public institutions when designing, commissioning, and delivering local services.
- Increase community control over the key spending decisions which affect local neighbourhoods.
Introduce Community Covenants
Neighbourhood-level arrangements would bring local people, community organisations and local authorities together to make decisions.
Establish a Community Power Commissioner
This independent office would ensure action is taken across government to uphold the rights and covenants.
“It would fundamentally address where power lies,” Mr Omarji said.
“In short, what we want to do is to build trust in communities and give more power to people who know their community best.
“People in local communities are answering the problems every day. We’re out here every day and it’s hard.
“I’ve had sleepless nights knocking on doors to make things better for my local community and this is not how it should be.”
The proposal is backed by a number of national organisations, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Power to Change, which Mr Omarji believes will help the cause.
Our Community Power Act would give communities a say over the public services they want and need.
— We're Right Here: the campaign for community power (@right_hereUK) May 17, 2022
Like Natascha in Bournemouth, where the community came together to offer vital affordible, accessible transport to local hospitals.
Read more: https://t.co/CLYrGxnGef pic.twitter.com/5dooqb6yNg
“They all agree with what we’re doing.
“It’s no different to the government’s levelling up agenda. It fits perfectly.”
Mr Omarji highlighted Bolton council’s community alliance scheme, from he drew parallels between the Community Power Act.
“Bolton is already trying to do something, while we’re trying to get something through Parliament. Get it rubber stamped as an act and get backing from the government. Then there’s accountability.
“An act in place with accountability with local and national organisations backing will give neighbourhoods and communities the chance to have a say.
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He added: “What I would say to politicians is you really need to have your finger on the pulse of communities, and they will do a lot of the work for you and ultimately that will save money.”
To find more, visit We’re Right Here’s website where people can show their support by adding their signature to a letter to Michael Gove, the Levelling Up minister.
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