Your interaction in the programme, at events and via the helpline, will provide the basis for updating the guides and this website with good practice examples of innovation and lessons learnt. These examples will provide you with real ideas of how to implement powers and tools most effectively which will hopefully make your job a little easier.

The 'Eat Neat' campaign in Stoke on Trent targeted problem litter areas in the city centre identified by a local environmental quality survey. The survey had identified some problem streets that people use to when leaving pubs and clubs that had a lack of bins.

Bin provision was improved in this area then a campaign launched to raise awareness of the new facilities. An advertising agency was employed to run the campaign, which centred on a daily competition on a local radio station which is popular with 18 - 25 year olds - Signal 1. Prize draws were held each day for a month of named and addressed litter items, placed by the public in specially marked bins as identified by the local environmental quality survey. Prizes included free meals, free entry to night clubs and a party for a 100 of your friends. A partnership with fast food and take away outlets, including a voluntary code of practice for businesses to sign up to, also formed a part of the campaign as well as additional street cleansing.

This method of targeting litter hotspots in the city resulted in a 20% drop in litter levels in these areas and Stoke city council hopes to run the campaign again in the future. Hilary Hampton from Stoke City Council says; "We felt that Eat Neat was a good instrument in raising the awareness of fast food litter not only to the public at large but also to businesses."

The Heart of London Business Improvement District (BID) covers two of the busiest footfall areas in the capital - Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Of the 200 business in the area eligible to vote, 71% voted yes for the BID with 44% these being evening and night time operators such as cinemas, theatres, cafes, amusement arcades, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and casinos. The BID aims to raise £2m over its life of just over two years to improve cleanliness, safety, accessibility, investment and marketing.

2,200 bags of rubbish are removed by the BID each month over and above what is removed by Westminster City Council. The BID also provides additional pavement cleaning, which includes litter picking and the removal of chewing gum, graffiti and fly-posting. Working closely with Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police, the BID is also helping to reduce crime through its Heart of London City Guardians, a dedicated uniformed team working around the clock to patrol the streets. In 2003, the Leicester Square area experienced an 80% reduction in crime compared to previous years and from a high in February 2002, street crime has reduced in the area overall by 75% and remains very low.