The Liverpool L8 area has been dogged by unemployment, antisocial behaviour and a growing number of grot spots. These areas were completely unmanaged and contributed to the poor image, bad health and feelings of being unsafe. Simply leaving them exposed and untreated was not an option.

Include Environment Services (IES), a partnership between Include Neighbourhood Regeneartion Ltd, Liverpool City Council and recruitment agency Local Solutions, offers job opportunities to local people, while tackling the district’s environmental problems.

Successful applicants receive employment for 12 months, during which they are trained to NVQ Level 3 in horticultur. They learn new skills in computers and driving and with the help of Local Solutions, are ready for permanent employment on completing their contract.

As well as looking after streets and green spaces, removing graffiti and clearing derelict houses, IES has also undertaken specialist projects.

In November 2003 a survey found 74% of residents were aware of IES and 76% were satisfied with open spaces it was responsible for.

Enforcement action was sometimes difficult because it was not know who owned the land; such enforcement was often ineffective due to court procedures, which INclude has now speeded up. Local service management allows quicker and more flexible responses, improving delivery and reducing costs; it was important to empower staff to relate to residents.

The community and the environment

A depot in the heart of L8 provides the necessary equipment, including three electrically powered vehicles, three diesel vehicles for long distances and heavy duties and, from December, two hybrid electric vehicles.

These IES’s ‘urban environmental rangers’ work alongside the council’s street cleansing and ground maintenance teams.

Include Neighbourhood Regeneration Ltd
Emma Pearson (Neighbourhood Support Officer)

//2003

case

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration, Economy knowledge & employment, Urban environment