Warden schemes in Burnley are being merged to save them from closure as councils grapple with the withdrawal of government funding.
The council's town-centre warden project, which costs £50,000 a year to run, is one of at least 36 schemes under threat when government funding runs out next March (HT 16 May, page 7).

Burnley plans to keep its two town-centre wardens by merging the project with its community warden scheme, which operates in housing estates. The 11 community wardens are funded by £500,000 of European money over three years, which could cover the cost of the town-centre scheme if £50,000 more is secured in the next bidding round, in the autumn.

Warden coordinator Tom Mann said: "We're looking at applying for funding to absorb the management side of the town-centre scheme.

We would not change how and where they work.

"Up and down the county, this type of negotiation is going on. I think those people who are switched on would see it as a natural extension."

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister introduced wardens in 2000, with a fund of £68m for the first three years. Some of the 208 schemes are funded by other sources, such as the New Deal for Communities and the single regeneration budget, but at least 36 rely on ODPM funding and face closure when that money stops coming.

Meanwhile, West Lancashire council has disbanded its 12-strong warden scheme in Skelmersdale. The local police force has replaced the wardens with 12 police community support officers jointly funded by the council and the police. The scheme costs £30,000.

Source

Housing Today