Breckland has became the first in the country to bring out a charter to ensure local communities become cleaner, safer and greener.The document gives pledges to people in Breckland about how a range of problems will be dealt with from abandoned vehicles to graffiti anti-social behaviour to dog mess.

Breckland has became the first in the country to bring out a charter to ensure local communities become cleaner, safer and greener.

The document gives pledges to people in Breckland about how a range of problems will be dealt with from abandoned vehicles to graffiti anti-social behaviour to dog mess.

An easy-to-read table tells residents who they should contact to report issues and who is responsible to get them dealt with.

The Cleaner Safer Greener charter for Breckland has come from a partnership between a range of groups including Breckland Council, police, fire service, Norfolk County Council and Peddars Way Housing Association and with help from ENCAMS, the national organisation which runs Keep Britain Tidy.

Local people have been consulted as the charter has been put together.

ENCAMS delivery director Steve Graham said: 'It will ensure cleaner and more welcoming streets. The council and its partners have listened to local people and are clearly committed to the charter, the first of its kind in the UK. It clearly defines the standards that everyone will work to and the quality of service that people can expect.'

He used the example of abusive graffiti and said if someone reported it they would wanted to know how long it would be there, who would remove it and what would happen to perpetrators if they were caught.

Stephen Askew, executive member for communities, said: 'Clean, safe and green issues affect the way that our district looks and how people feel. I hope that this proactive approach will empower people to have their say, get involved and take pride in Breckland.'

Details of the charter will be sent to all residents of Breckland in the next issue of the Voice magazine. The full charter document is available on www.breckland.gov.uk.