NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (NHW)
NW Revitalised
.
Over the last three months a new NW
programme has been rolled out nationwide. Its
most useful component is an alert system
whereby many agencies involved in crime pre-
vention can inject up-to-the minute crime re-
ports or advice. The programme also allows
NW coordinators to manage their schemes on
line and monitor crime in their area. Our experi-
ence so far has shown it to be a comprehen-
sive and responsive tool which will enhance
NW.
It is easy for individuals to register with
the programme but some may find the amount
of material and management of the many op-
tions available time consuming. In view of this,
your NW Coordinators believe that, at least ini-
tially, it would be more effective for them to
monitor it and to quickly pass on that which is
relevant to crime prevention in Buckden.
To do this we would obviously require
you to let us have your Email address. We can
assure you that it would be used solely for this
purpose and Email addresses of other partici-
pants would not be divulged. Judging by the
material seen so far, the number of such
Emails would be very small, perhaps no more
than two or three per month.
Contact telephone numbers.
If you wish to report an incident or suspicious
behaviour, please dial the new
single non-
emergency number 101.
Your village NHW Coordinators are:
Clive Williams 811828
Richard West 811467
FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR
As winter draws in and colder weather is upon
us I would like to make you aware that the grit
and salt to be found in the grit bins at the side of
the road are for the use of residents on pave-
ments and driveways to make safer passage
when there is ice or snow on the ground. At this
time of tightening budgets we hear the word
‘Localilsm’ used. I attended a very interesting
Members seminar on Friday 11
th
October on the
subject of Localism. The Cambridgeshire
County Councils definition of ‘Localism is about
the devolution of power and resources to the
most appropriate level.’ As Councillors, either at
County, District or Parish level, our role should
perhaps be to try and enable and facilitate
changes within our communities. Changes that
are of a benefit to the community and that the
community would like to help them become
more self sufficient. One initiative that the
County Council are trying to encourage is Time
Banking. Time Banking is a way for people to
come together and help each other by exchang-
ing knowledge, help and skills. There are cur-
rently 5 Time Banking schemes running in the
County and a pilot scheme called Time Credits
is now running in Wisbech which involves peo-
ple being given credit notes (an alternative cur-
rency) as a 'thank you' for volunteering with cer-
tain organisations, these credits can then be
'spent' on a range of activities e.g. swimming.
Time Banking is a way for people to gain confi-
dence in a skill and network future customers to
then perhaps set up their own business. This is
just one way that Time Banking can bring bene-
fits to a community. Time Banking can also in-
volve a group of communities or villages work-
ing together. It is a way of building self sufficient
communities. In an age of reduced government
funding and reducing budgets, Localism can
help communities to become more self suffi-
cient.
If you would like any more information please
contact me.
Cllr Julie Wisson
County Councillor, Buckden Division
Tel:
07725 791459
or
01767 677837
Email:
julie.wisson@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
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