| In 1999 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched an experiment in neighbourhood renewal — the New Deal for Community (NDC) programme. The pilot programme is intended to give local communities a much greater influence in the way in which funds are used to achieve neighbourhood renewal. Unlike previous regeneration programmes where monies were paid to central and local government bodies to deliver regeneration, in this programme the monies have been given directly to identified neighbourhoods for them to manage via their New Deal for Community Partnership Board made up of local representatives. This allows the communities to purchase services to meet their regeneration needs in accordance with their priorities. The approach is being tested in 39 neighbourhoods across the country and is expected to cost some £2 billion over 10 years.
The NDC neighbourhoods are expected to engage in partnership with existing service delivery agencies, such as Local Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Police Authorities and other partners, to reduce the extent of crime, unemployment, poor health, low educational performance and improve the physical environment. A key objective for the Department is to evaluate the programme to identify what works to stimulate neighbourhood renewal and promote these solutions nationally.
The programme is still at a relatively early stage and it is not therefore possible to determine its full impact. There are, however, already examples of effective neighbourhood renewal arising from this new approach. But equally, some tensions have developed between some New Deal for Community partnerships, their communities and local authorities that need to be addressed if further progress is to be ensured.
On the basis of a Report from the Comptroller and Auditor General,[1] we took evidence from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the place of the programme in wider efforts to regenerate deprived communities; engagement with the community; and the effectiveness and sustainability of the programme.
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