About Estate Based Initiatives (EBI)

Perth and Kinross Council and communities are working together on Estate-Based Initiatives - (EBI) that deliver neighbourhood improvements on Housing Revenue Account (HRA) land.

Under EBI, Council tenants decide what those improvements are. The EBI programme is identified by tenants and residents during local 'walkabouts', door knocking surveys, focus group meetings, through social media and a priority voting system. Local elected members, housing staff and residents take part in the walkabouts which happen in Spring, with a view to carrying out works throughout the rest of the year.

 Any proposed project must be on communal ground/property owned by the Housing Revenue Account and contribute to at least one of the following:

• Community Safety or
•  Improve the appearance of the area or
•  Increase tenant involvement in their community.

In addition we are encouraging social enterprise via the use of a partnership with Westbank, a local employability initiative who will undertake some of the environmental contracts under EBI and who train local people in gardening and landscaping.

Across Perth and Kinross neighbourhood many improvement projects have been carried out under the EBI project including:

•   Improvements to signage and paths right across the area, notably in North Muirton, Kinross and Errol
•   New fencing in many neighbourhoods to improve community confidence and safety
•   Many car parking improvements such as in Luncarty and Blairgowrie, Comrie and Crieff.
•   Enhanced open spaces in Invergowrie, Kinross, Letham, Tulloch, Gilmerton, Auchterarder, Luncarty and Crieff
•   New bin store areas and signage in Methven, designed by tenants.
•   Enhanced lighting at flats throughout the localities.
•   Additional litter bins and dog fouling notices throughout the localities
•   New community noticeboards in City Centre flats
•   Community Garden in Letham behind the shops - designed by local residents
•   Numbering, lighting and enhanced communal areas as agreed with tenants.

Tenant feedback

Feedback from tenants about EBI projects has been very positive overall. Some examples of feedback we have received are:

• "The clearing the overgrowth has given us a chance to use the outdoor space near our houses and we will be holding community events there, including summer fun for the families, we are holding a fun day in the open space and look forward to meeting up with one another."
• "The new numbering in our area looks great and it shows outsiders that we care about what people think of where we live, and also shows that the council is listening to us."
• "The EBI walkabout was an eye-opener, I didn't know all the nooks and crannies in the streets around here and we've got some great ideas including helping to create meeting spots, and to find places for putting in some grit bins as we struggle in the winter."
• Plans  include:
• A plan to open up grassed areas to create much needed car parking in Dunning, Craigie, Auchterarder, Stanley, Birnam,  Abernethy and Kinross
• A redesign of the paths and drying areas in Rattray
• Opening up of old drying greens and redesign of communal spaces in Perth City Centre, Crieff, Tulloch and Letham
• A set of community resources for communities to be able to meet and host their own tenant and resident events.

We will use participatory budgeting as a method for defining the final budget when meeting with tenants at the budgeting phase of the programme.

If you would like any further information about EBIs please email TenantParticipation@pkc.gov.uk.