New power-sharing agreement with Shropshire Council to be launched in north Shropshire town

The project, which has been organised by Charlotte Hollins, general manager of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative, will launch next week and aims to ensure that organisations and residents have the power to shape the places they live.

The project will represent Shropshire's first 'community covenant', seeing residents and organisations work together to decide how and where a 'Community and Family Hub' could be run in the town. 

The pilot project will be shared with Westminster through the 'We're Right Here' campaign that Charlotte has been part of during the last twelve months, and that has been calling on the Government to introduce a Community Power Act with three core new community rights. 

The first was successfully announced in the King’s Speech earlier this year - the community right to buy. 

Now, campaign leaders, including Charlotte, and eight sector-based organisations including Power to Change, Locality, Esmee Fairbairn, and New Local, are working together with Westminster to bring in new legislation through the new English Devolution Bill. 

Charlotte Hollins said: "I am extremely excited to be able to pilot this project in Market Drayton. I have been met with nothing other than positive comments from Shropshire Council, who have described this pilot as a ‘gift’. It has been wonderful to see how positive everyone within their team has been, starting from the top and all the way down. 

"Our next step is to hold our first meeting in Market Drayton to create the covenant and agree how we will work together. Community covenants are power-sharing agreements formed between local authorities and a community partners, which might include parish/town councils, Neighbourhood Forums, local charities and community groups and community 'anchor' organisations amongst others.

“Each partner is expected to earn and maintain the trust of their community, to work proactively to identify local concerns, to support those within their community to take part inclusively, to be continually accountable and to make decisions in the interests of local people. 

“I would love to hear from all the groups in Market Drayton and the feeder villages who would like to be part of this wonderful opportunity. It is so important that the representative voices of our community are shared in this space. If this sounds like your group or organisation, then please get in touch.”

The first meeting will be held at Festival Drayton Centre, on Tuesday, December 3, between 10am and 12pm. 

Groups can register their interest by visiting www.fordhallfarm.com/mdcovenant.