I was delighted to speak at a Redeeming Our Communities 'Conversation Event' (http://bit.ly/NJHYgV) at Exeter Cathedral last night (21 June). The event drew together representatives from a wide range of successful local community groups and services with partners from the police, church, fire and rescue service and local authority.
This is what I said...
Thank you for inviting me to the Redeeming Our Communities event this evening. I’m allowed a maximum of 5 minutes, so my remarks will be brief and to the point. I speak to you tonight not as a church goer or a member of a faith group, but as an individual that believes in exploring all avenues for strengthening our community. I also believe in supporting and empowering individuals who want to stand up for ‘the right thing’, believe in encouraging discussion of the uncomfortable and believe that it’s often better to stand up for what’s right rather than seek popularity. I also recognise that committing to supporting change as a group and feeling emboldened at an event such as this is the easy part – delivering change and standing up for what’s right when it’s not universally popular and when those around you are counselling you to take a different path is far from easy.
As Exeter City Centre Manager it has been a real honour to be at the centre of steering through the most radical period of city centre change and development for over 30 years. I’m sometimes proponent of change, sometimes deliverer of change, sometimes cheerleader in chief for Exeter, but frankly more often than not I’m the bringer of news and views that are uncomfortable for others but nonetheless really important. We have been going through an incredibly exciting period for the city centre and there is no doubt that the changes delivered over the last decade have allowed this city to meet current recessionary pressures head-on. It’s vital that we continue to deliver further radical surgery for our city centre, essential that we maintain a path of constant change, renewal and investment. I’m genuinely excited about the capacity for further development and change in Exeter, I’m genuinely excited about our capacity to cement our competitive position within the region and I’m genuinely excited at the confidence being shown in the city by an increasing number of businesses.
But let me be absolutely clear, I recognise that as critical as continued economic development and regeneration are, it’s really critical that we focus on community strengthening, development and regeneration too. If this city is to achieve its full economic potential, if it is to continue to develop and thrive, we must ensure that it is a ‘shop window’ for the community as a whole, that it is a resource for the whole community, that it is a place where the whole community feel welcome and secure, that it is a place where we celebrate diversity of views and give a warm welcome to every section of society. Those aspirations that I have set out need to apply 24/7 as well – we must ensure that Exeter ceases to change its dynamics in the evening and night-time period, as I’m afraid to say it all too often does.It’s also critically important that we have the confidence that we should have in our city centre and indeed in our city as a whole. Exeter is a special place, jam packed full of very special people and I want each and every one of you to celebrate your city, to celebrate your community, to actively support any projects that the Redeeming Our Communities initiative can facilitate that add value to our city.
Whilst Exeter is a success story at many levels, there’s no point in pretending that all is rosy in the garden. All the issues that confront society as a whole are mirrored on the patch… drug abuse… alcohol abuse… domestic violence and abuse… social breakdown… All real challenges to us that can’t be swept under the carpet. We’re a safe city – a safe city centre – but the challenges are real and we mustn’t be afraid to talk about them, be afraid of being challenged on them or be afraid of answering them with innovation and innovative partnerships. So I also want each of you to show tough love to those who need it, to those who engage in anti-social behaviour and to those whose behaviour damages our community and damages our enjoyment of this city.
This Redeeming Our Communities event has the potential to be a useful part of that process of community strengthening, development and regeneration, but it’s vital that I say the following:
This is what I said...
Thank you for inviting me to the Redeeming Our Communities event this evening. I’m allowed a maximum of 5 minutes, so my remarks will be brief and to the point. I speak to you tonight not as a church goer or a member of a faith group, but as an individual that believes in exploring all avenues for strengthening our community. I also believe in supporting and empowering individuals who want to stand up for ‘the right thing’, believe in encouraging discussion of the uncomfortable and believe that it’s often better to stand up for what’s right rather than seek popularity. I also recognise that committing to supporting change as a group and feeling emboldened at an event such as this is the easy part – delivering change and standing up for what’s right when it’s not universally popular and when those around you are counselling you to take a different path is far from easy.
As Exeter City Centre Manager it has been a real honour to be at the centre of steering through the most radical period of city centre change and development for over 30 years. I’m sometimes proponent of change, sometimes deliverer of change, sometimes cheerleader in chief for Exeter, but frankly more often than not I’m the bringer of news and views that are uncomfortable for others but nonetheless really important. We have been going through an incredibly exciting period for the city centre and there is no doubt that the changes delivered over the last decade have allowed this city to meet current recessionary pressures head-on. It’s vital that we continue to deliver further radical surgery for our city centre, essential that we maintain a path of constant change, renewal and investment. I’m genuinely excited about the capacity for further development and change in Exeter, I’m genuinely excited about our capacity to cement our competitive position within the region and I’m genuinely excited at the confidence being shown in the city by an increasing number of businesses.
But let me be absolutely clear, I recognise that as critical as continued economic development and regeneration are, it’s really critical that we focus on community strengthening, development and regeneration too. If this city is to achieve its full economic potential, if it is to continue to develop and thrive, we must ensure that it is a ‘shop window’ for the community as a whole, that it is a resource for the whole community, that it is a place where the whole community feel welcome and secure, that it is a place where we celebrate diversity of views and give a warm welcome to every section of society. Those aspirations that I have set out need to apply 24/7 as well – we must ensure that Exeter ceases to change its dynamics in the evening and night-time period, as I’m afraid to say it all too often does.It’s also critically important that we have the confidence that we should have in our city centre and indeed in our city as a whole. Exeter is a special place, jam packed full of very special people and I want each and every one of you to celebrate your city, to celebrate your community, to actively support any projects that the Redeeming Our Communities initiative can facilitate that add value to our city.
Whilst Exeter is a success story at many levels, there’s no point in pretending that all is rosy in the garden. All the issues that confront society as a whole are mirrored on the patch… drug abuse… alcohol abuse… domestic violence and abuse… social breakdown… All real challenges to us that can’t be swept under the carpet. We’re a safe city – a safe city centre – but the challenges are real and we mustn’t be afraid to talk about them, be afraid of being challenged on them or be afraid of answering them with innovation and innovative partnerships. So I also want each of you to show tough love to those who need it, to those who engage in anti-social behaviour and to those whose behaviour damages our community and damages our enjoyment of this city.
This Redeeming Our Communities event has the potential to be a useful part of that process of community strengthening, development and regeneration, but it’s vital that I say the following:
- There are strong business and community partnerships already operating in the city centre and within communities across the city, often with the City Council as a leader and enabler. It’s vital that any work that gathers pace under the banner of ROC is seen as complementary, as adding value, to those existing partnerships.
- Partnerships for change take a long time to build, can be torn apart very quickly and are difficult to rebuild. There must be the discipline of strengthening and building on the good community partnerships that already exist, rather than seeking to replace existing and effective delivery frameworks.
- We all want to see sustained and increased change for good within the Exeter community – it’s vital to stress that the Redeeming Our Communities is open to all and that its greatest chance of success is by reaching beyond faith communities to the broadest cross-section of the wider community.
I wish you luck this evening and in the period ahead. I hope you find common ground that enables the development of a wide range of initiatives that add value to existing partnerships and that make this city – a city that I love with a passion – an even better place to be.
Thank you
John Harvey
City Centre Manager
22 June 2012
Thank you
John Harvey
City Centre Manager
22 June 2012
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