A community contract is due to be formulated between residents of Fairstead and service providers potentially including West Norfolk Council, Norfolk County Council, Freebridge housing provider and maybe Norfolk Police.

National headlines this week said the new agreements could see councils which fail to hit their side of the bargain having to hand out compensation, but West Norfolk Council chief executive Ray Harding said in reality he could not see that being an option.

"It's about getting services right not giving people a tiny proportion of their council tax back," he said.

"It's a way for residents to hold public service bodies to account but also to accept there is a responsibility on the part of residents."

Mr Harding said the agreements could see residents signing up not to fly tip for example, while councils agree to things such as collecting their rubbish once a week.

Fairstead resident Graham Brooks (67), of Westfields, said: "I can't see any harm in it. It's always nice to have some sort of leverage with the council, but whether it is really going to make any difference I don't know. The estate has already improved leaps and bounds on how it used to be."