CAT Teams are coming to Telford and Wrekin
A new local service is coming to help create better neighbourhoods as part of creating a better borough.
Community Action Teams, known as ‘CATs’, are paid for by participating town or parish councils, match-funded by Telford & Wrekin Council. The teams consist of officers dedicated to their specific areas to:
Support the borough’s neighbourhood enforcement by tackling parking, environmental crime and anti-social behaviour at a really local level. Their work will complement and be in addition to that carried out by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers for the borough as a whole.
Clean and maintain grounds. Such work could include replacing or repairing signs, bins, bollards or railings, or mowing and strimming or clearing vegetation. This work, to be delivered by contractor idverde will be a local enhanced service which will include a dedicated team to deal with footpaths. This will be in addition to the grounds and cleansing service already provided by idverde on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council across the borough.
Act as a locality liaison officer on the ground, linking up with the participating town or parish council, Telford & Wrekin Council, contractors and the community to identify local issues and work on local projects.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Community Action Teams, or ‘CATs’ are being launched across a number of areas right across Telford and Wrekin.
“Telford & Wrekin Council, working with our town and parish councils, to enhance the environment and make our communities safer.
“The Community Action Teams will be a dedicated resource to improve the look and the feel of communities and will have an enforcement officer to deal with things like anti-social behaviour, looking for people who fly-tip and those who are irresponsibly parking across the communities that we serve.
“The community actions teams is a significant investment right across the borough. I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the ten parish and town councils that have joined up in different guises.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, said: “This will make a big difference to our community. I know just how important it is that our communities are clean and green. I also know how important it is, with the reduction in police numbers across the borough, that people see enforcement officers in their communities. I am sure residents will begin to see the difference as the teams begin to launch across the borough.”
Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for neighbourhood, commercial services and regeneration, added: “We know that one size doesn’t fit all and that is why we are offering this very local, tailored service to town and parish councils to help deal with the very specific needs of their area based on their individual priorities, local intelligence and information.
“Our offer for any town or parish council wanting a CAT team is to offer the individual level of service to meet their needs and budget and we will match the funding of it.
“I am delighted that the first team will start work in Great Dawley Town Council’s area this week, soon to be followed in April by Wrockwardine Wood and Trench, St Georges and Priorslee, Madeley, Lawley and Overdale, Hollinswood and Randlay, Hadley and Leegomery, Wellington, Oakengates and Dawley Hamlets
“Working with town and parish councils in this way shows how we, as a Co-Operative Council in partnership with other organisations, can create a better borough.”
