Neighbourhood partnerships 'do have clout'

COUNCIL officials have ruled that Edinburgh's neighbourhood partnerships have "plenty of scope for influence", despite calls for more powers.

The partnerships are designed to give residents more say over local services and spending priorities, but were recently criticised for having "no clout".

Figures released to the Evening News in July under the Freedom of Information Act indicated that, on average, fewer than 18 members of the public attend each meeting.

Twelve of the groups were introduced in Edinburgh around one year ago, replacing local development committees. The bodies are made up of councillors, public agencies, community representatives, police officers, NHS Lothian and the voluntary sector.

In the first annual review of the partnerships, the council's director of services for communities, Mark Turley, said: "Whilst some have expressed concern about the powers of neighbourhood partnerships, there is plenty of scope for influence, certainly over locally-managed services but also over other council and partner services.

"The test will be whether, over time, the wider community believes that the quality of services is improving because their needs are being well represented."