The Neighbourhood Response Teams are the people who keep your streets and local area clean and green.  Most wards have a team of six or seven people who are collectively responsible for:

• picking up rubbish
• removing graffiti
• cutting back overgrown shrubs and bushes
• minor repairs to street furniture such as bollards and fencing
• small scale painting of street furniture and fencing
• ensuring drains and gullies are kept flowing
• mechanical sweeping of roads and footpaths

The teams work with other agencies such as the Police and Neighbourhood Wardens in the ward to identify and resolve problems such as graffiti hot spots, abandoned cars and drinking/drugs dens.

The teams are supervised by a Neighbourhood Response Manager (NRM) who is Neighbourhood Services representative in each ward.  The NRM liaises with other Officers of the City Council, Police and other agencies to solve problems identified by local people often through the Ward Committee.  The NRM has a responsibility for the Ward Development Plan, a Neighbourhood Services document that identifies what services are being delivered at a neighbourhood level and how they are being improved.  The Ward Development Plan also includes investment information and reflects the aspirations of local people.

The NRM has responsibility for the Ward Stewardship Budget.  This small budget is used to respond to requests from local people for small scale investment such as new litter bins, footpath resurfacing, new fencing etc.  If you have an idea for a local environmental improvement please let your NRM know.

If you see work that you think the Neighbourhood Response Team can do in your area or across the City please contact them via Envirocall on 0191 274 4000.  You can also contact your NRM directly or at your Ward Committee.