Our estate.

Our budget.

We decide.

Community-led budgeting on Hilgrove estate.

This year, Camden Council piloted a project on Hilgrove where residents are put in charge of part of the estate budget.

Residents had a say over how existing services are run (outdoor cleaning and grounds maintenance) and the opportunity to come up with new ideas for estate improvements and projects.

  • 42k/year (84k over 2 years) is a discretionary budget from the Repairs team which is currently unallocated. Over these two years, residents can spend it on improvements to outdoor spaces on Hilgrove. This budget cannot be spent on any improvements or repairs to individual houses or blocks.

    Residents will submit ideas for improvements costing anywhere between £250 and £25,000. Shortlisted ideas will then be voted on by the whole estate.

  • The rest of the budget is currently allocated to services to maintain outdoor spaces on Hilgrove.

    These include:

    1. GREEN SPACES: 16k/year (£32k over 2 years) goes to IDVerde, a private company who are responsible for grounds maintenance across Camden. On Hilgrove they are responsible for things like trimming hedges.

    2. OUTDOOR CLEANING/MAINTENANCE: £42k/year (£84k over 2 years) covers the time spent by caretakers maintaining outdoor spaces. This includes sweeping and litter-picking, removing bulk waste and reporting repairs.

    Residents will review how this budget is currently spent and consider different options for these services e.g.

    • Which tasks do these services include?

    • Who provides these services?

    • Could they be combined?

    • Do we want to INCREASE or DECREASE the budget for these services (this would impact the amount available for improvement ideas)

  • In June, there was an Open Call for residents who wanted to represent their community and guide the process. 12 people were selected to do 20 hours of paid work coordinating the process. The group was selected to represent a range of different ages, ethnicities and genders. They live on different parts of the estate and bring a range of skills and experiences.

    The role of the resident coordinators includes:

    • Designing the process

    • Outreach and engagement to different groups on the estate

    • Joining meetings with the council

    • Running an estate-wide vote

  • The council is partnering with The Winch to support residents to participate in the process. The Winch is a local youth and community charity who have worked closely with Hilgrove residents of all ages for many years. The team at the Winch will work closely with residents to coordinate each stage of the process from community engagement events to developing an implementation plan.

The process

We are now in the phase where the council will implement the winning proposals voted for by residents.

You can read a more detailed summary of all the activities and events so far here.

Winning proposals

  • “The bins are currently dirty and overflowing and they smell bad. This is particularly bad in the summer and for residents living above them. We should refurbish the bin storage because people will feel happier if they live in a clean and well-maintained environment.”

    Alea - Dobson Close

  • “By installing special play equipment for kids with SEND on Hilgrove, we will send a message that everyone belongs in our community. There are many families on Hilgrove with kids with autism, ADHD, physical and mental disabilities. It is a struggle to have to travel far to reach accessible play spaces. I want the kids to feel independent, safe and happy. In addition to improving accessibility, this equipment would improve play for all kids on Hilgrove.”

    Nazia- Taylor Court

  • “New bike sheds on Hilgrove would protect bikes that are chained outside and deteriorate quickly from the weather. It would clear up space taken up by these bikes, and could encourage people to take up cycling as a means of transport. The benefits of biking are significant, from improving individual health and well being to reducing pollution.”

    Leo - Gillies House

  • “Hiring an apprentice is an effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated and skilled workforce. On Hilgrove we believe in equal opportunity and this role will create a new opportunity for someone facing disadvantage in the jobs market. This will allow us to adapt training to the needs of the community and to improve the quality of cleaning on Hilgrove by bringing in extra capacity.”

    Fateha - Tayler Court