The 2005 general election may have been and gone but residents in Burngreave are gearing up to take part in another important vote.
Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC), a £52million Government programme to help regenerate Burngreave, is encouraging local people to get involved by electing five members of the community to sit on the BNDfC partnership board.
The Partnership Board has 25 places of which ten are for residents who are elected by local people. Every two years, five places are put up for election with those chosen carrying out a four-year term.
Playing a vital role in BNDfC, the board are responsible for agreeing the priorities for the BNDfC area through consultation with local people and awarding funding to initiatives that tackle these priorities and make Burngreave a better place for people to live, work and play.
In addition to the five people elected to be community representatives on the BNDfC board, people will also be asked to select three representatives form the voluntary and community (VolCom) sector.
The VolCom organisations, who the candidates will work for, will be located within, and provide a service to, the BNDfC area.
And as excitement mounts, the campaign trail is really starting to hot up.
The nominated candidates will soon be known and from the 20 June, ballot papers will be distributed to all homes in the BNDfC area. There will then be a three-week period in which people can post their vote, plus an additional opportunity to vote in person at the polling station at Abbeyfield Festival on 10 July.
On Tuesday 21 June (12noon-2pm), Saturday 25 June (3pm-5pm) and Monday 27 June (6pm-8pm), the BNDfC Information Vehicle will be out and about on the streets of Burngreave for the election hustings. This gives people a chance to meet the candidates and hear what they have to say and what they want to do.
John Clark, BNDfC Chief Executive, said: "It is very important that the people of Burngreave get involved with the elections and have their say. Everyone over the age of 15 who lives in the BNDfC area is entitled to vote, they just need to make sure they are registered. Those who vote in the local or national elections, will already be on the BNDfC electoral register but for those who are not sure if they are registered, they can complete the form that has been delivered to their door and send it back by 13 June.
“It is a very exciting time for the whole community – those elected play such an important role in the regeneration of Burngreave so it is vital that we encourage as many people as possible to take part in the voting,” he added.
If you need any help or more information about the elections, please contact the BNDfC Information Shop at 131 Spital Hill, tel: 0114 292 0464.