Six lucky people could soon be paid over £28,000 a year to patrol Bridgwater town center in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour.
Bridgwater is one of 101 towns across the UK to benefit from the Government’s Cities Fund, receiving £22.6m for 11 projects designed to ‘boost business, improve infrastructure, encourage business and bring communities together “. One of the plans is to fund city rangers or ambassadors who can provide a “visible presence of community support” and “build visitor confidence” in the area.
Sedgemoor District Council has now agreed to allocate up to £1m of the town’s deal funding to these ambassadors, who could be in post as early as this summer. Bridgwater town center has seen numerous incidents of anti-social behavior in recent years; in 2019, the Cornhill section had the most reports of antisocial behavior in the entire operational area of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
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The new City Ambassadors will help “encourage safe use of the city center and its amenities”, providing advice and support to regular visitors and shoppers in the city centre. They will also work with other partners and agencies, being their “eyes and ears” day and night to prevent anti-social behavior and assist those who are vulnerable or at risk.
Further details of the town’s ambassador project were released ahead of a council executive committee meeting in Bridgwater on Wednesday morning (March 16). Nathaniel Lucas, head of the district council’s economic development department, said in his written report: “A key priority for the town’s agreement is to revitalize the town center and support local economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19.
Bridgwater town center (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
“Establishing a visible presence in the city center through the employment of city guards and ambassadors will reassure downtown residents and businesses and further support event organizers to encourage and promote the activity in the city centre, the ambassadors will be tasked with talking to people on the street, identifying the reasons for their behavior and determining the potential risks.
“The engagement role is vital for them to refer situations to other appropriate organizations and agencies, whether addressing homelessness, substance abuse or supporting the vulnerable.
“Where appropriate, Reeves and Ambassadors will be empowered to issue fixed fine notices or overage notices, in accordance with appropriate legislation and council policies and local regulations. Enforcement, however, is considered to be a measure of last resort.”
A total of £1m of City Agreement funding will be used to fund six Ambassadors (four full-time and two part-time) – one of whom will serve as a ‘senior manager’, providing direct liaison between the other ambassadors and officers of the council. Regular Ambassadors will receive £28,130 a year, while the Senior Director will receive £31,680 a year – both in line with existing council officer pay levels.
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Funding for each of the six positions (along with the other City Agreement projects) is guaranteed until 2026 – although administration of the funding will pass to the new unitary Somerset Council once it officially takes office in April 2023.
A formal business case for City Ambassadors has been submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). If approved, the council hopes the new ambassadors will be on the streets by mid-summer.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-21 00:00:00
