The Doorstep Greens initiative ceased on 31 March 2007. There were no regional teams post 31 December 2006 and posts in the National Project Team ceased between the end of January and the end of March 2007.

As part of our commitment to ensuring that the greens are maintained in the future, it is necessary to carry out monitoring of sites.

The liability periods for each Doorstep Green are listed in the Doorstep Greens ‘handbook’. The liability period is the length of time that a Doorstep Green has been set aside for use as green space and is usually for around 25 to 80 years. The number of years that a green is set aside for is also the number of years that the grant terms and conditions apply for.

A monitoring process has been set up, which in the first instance involves each green being sent a post-completion monitoring questionnaire on an annual basis.

Compliance visits to the greens should be undertaken by appointed officers from each region, 20% of sites need to be visited annually, following receipt or non-receipt of the monitoring questionnaire. A nil response to the monitoring questionnaire does not necessarily need to be followed up by a site visit, but visits may be carried out to greens that are thriving, as well as those that are considered to be struggling. In this way, it will be possible to note the successful Doorstep Greens that are making a positive contribution to their local area, as well as those which have not been a success. There may be cases where more than one visit may be necessary to greens where specific issues have been raised by the initial visit and also prior to this where greens have been identified as struggling.

A compliance checklist (see below) should be completed by the officer visiting the site and any issues (good or bad), noted on this.

It would be advisable to set up a rolling programme of visits, so each green is assured of a visit every so many years, rather than rely on an entirely ad hoc system of visiting. There may be occasions where more work is required for ‘problem’ greens, but this can only be determined post contract completion, when the greens no longer have regular contact and support from the regional advisers.

Attached below are, the annual monitoring questionnaire to be sent out to groups, along with the compliance visit checklist, to be completed by the officer carrying out the site visit.

Until it is decided whether there will be a national casework officer who will oversee DG monitoring and any residual issues that may occur, the annual monitoring forms should be sent out by the person responsible for Doorstep Greens in each region.

Click Here to download the (MS Word) Doorstep Greens Monitoring Form