Taking the commitments to the streets

Sevilla23rd March 2007

Cllr Ben BanoDeal Town Council

Deal – some key statistics

• In East Kent – high levels of deprivation in otherwise affluent South East of England

• Population of 26000• First Council in UK at third-tier level to sign

Aalborg commitments (July 2005)• Commitment to sustainability as core to the

Council’s activities• Town Plan process – involving local community

in completing the vision• Annual budget: €450,000.

Julius Caesar landed here…

A tradition of mining

A tradition of fishing

Taking commitments to the streets

• Deal beach – often unattractive because of litter problem

• How could we develop a popular way of keeping the beach clean ?

• Plan event for Public Holiday

• Make it fun

• Follow up with a barbecue (Fairtrade or local produce of course !)

Taking commitments to the streets: Deal Beach Clean

And the reward…

Using ‘ethical’ ingredients

Taking commitments to the streets

• The Saturday market was in decline

• Now managed by Deal Town Council

• Considerable increase in number of stallholders

Key to involvement – improved public transport

• New bus services using government Challenge Grant

• Partnership between agencies and bus companies

• Hourly service to Canterbury and Dover• ‘Diamond’ trademark• Environmentally friendly buses• Free for people over 60 and for people

with disabilities

Civic Pride - Deal in Bloom…