Beacon Council
Next update is: 31 January 2010
Welcome to our Beacon pages.
St.Helens Council has been awarded Beacon Authority Status on 5 occasions, most recently securing two awards for 2009 / 2010 in the themes of Raising Economic Prosperity Through Partnership and Homes for the Future.
Round 10 2009/2010
Raising Economic Prosperity Through Partnership
St.Helens Councils approach to regeneration and spreading economic prosperity is to develop meaningful partnerships with the private, public, voluntary and community sectors. These partnerships thoroughly research the socio-economic conditions, devise options to address the challenges and, importantly, empower the most appropriate partner to lead in project delivery. Monitoring and evaluation is also undertaken at a partnership level. This approach has delivered impressive results.
The high unemployment created by the closure of the traditional industrial companies in the 1980s is being adressed and St.Helens currently has the second lowest unemployment rate on Merseyside. St.Helens is also second to none in its ability to deliver regeneration projects successfully, including its LEGI programme, which has seen the creation of over 1,500 new jobs in the first 2 years.
St.Helens Application Raising Economic Prosperity Through Partnership
Beacon case study City Growth Strategy
Beacon Case Study Business Winning Business
Economic Prosperity Theme Guide Final
Homes for the Future
Historically, a limited, low quality housing offer has been a contributing factor in the decline of the Borough's industrial base. In recent years however, the Council and its public and private sector partners across the sub-region, have come together to address these issues and to recognise the pivotal role of housing in supporting the wider economic and social regeneration of the Borough. With housing as a 'golden thread' running through the Council, significant investment has been secured to upgrade the existing stock, deliver aspirational homes and provide specialised housing for vulnerable people.
The Council prides itself on delivering "quality and choice for all residents" and has put this into practice with high quality schemes for Gypsies and Travellers and older and disabled people needing extra care homes.
The approach in St.Helens is based on effective performance management to ensure that key housing priorities are delivered and recognition of the role of housing in helping to deliver wider regeneration within the Borough.
St.Helens Homes for the Future Beacon Application
Homes for the future Theme Guide
Round 9 2008/2009
Improving Accessibility
Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) demonstrates a clear strategic direction and good liaison and joint working arrangements between the local authority partners and Merseyside PTA (Merseytravel).
Early work focused on identifying areas of deprivation or particular need and subsequent projects have developed and built on this. Good marketing of existing and new services ensures that uptake is optimised.
Round 8 2007/2008
It is central to the Local Children and Young Peoples Plan which has nine priorities with the programme contributing to eight including raising achievement, making school relevant, reducing bullying and improving attendance. A self-review tool based on national and local themes/priorities incorporates the views of all stakeholders and partners who can assess their potential response e.g. new services or training.
Working with partners, it has generated a very impressive range of products for use with local people and groups including a disability cycling centre, work with girls to increase their participation in sport, and a project for traveller families.
Round 4 2003/2004
Rethinking Construction
St.Helens has utilised its Rethinking Construction experience on a variety of schemes of differing values and strongly believes that benefits accrue on all types and values of project.
Contact
Further information on all of our Beacon successes will be available in the near future. However, if you have any immediate enquiries about either of our current Beacon Themes then please email:
