Agenda item

This report sets out progress so far on the Connecting Communities programme (including establishing Connecting Communities Forums), provides an update on Bath City governance, and recommends next steps

Lesley Mansell (Chair, Radstock Town Council) in an ad hoc statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 5 and on the Council's website] observed that it would be important not to overlook previous very good work which had taken place in Radstock.  She asked whether the Bath City Conference would include the other more rural areas.

Peter Duppa-Miller (Secretary of the local Town and Parish Councils Association) in an ad hoc statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 6 and on the Council's website] felt that the initiative would enable considerable opportunities to narrow the gaps which had existed.  He welcomed the empowerment of Town and Parish Councils to contribute their own local knowledge in the context of the aspirations of their communities.  He urged Cabinet to extend the Connecting Communities Area Forum approach, and to set up a Bathavon Area Forum early in 2015.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson in an ad hoc statement asked that the venue and times of new meetings should be considered so as to be convenient for as many local people as possible.  She observed that it was not true that because something worked in Keynsham, it would work in the Somer valley.

Wera Hobhouse (North East Somerset Liberal Democrats) in an ad hoc statement said that having attended all 3 of the forums, she was aware that they were all different.  She congratulated the Cabinet for putting the arrangements in place but had noticed that very few members of the public had attended.  She hoped that ways would be found to issue direct invitations to the public.

Councillor Tim Warren in an ad hoc statement observed that members of the public often attended Parish Councils.

Councillor Paul Crossley in proposing the item, agreed with Councillor Eleanor Jackson that location was an important factor influencing attendance.  He agreed that although the model adopted for Keynsham was working very well, this would not be imposed on the Somer valley.  He thanked Wera Hobhouse for her endorsement of the proposals. 

Councillor Dine Romero in seconding the proposal emphasised the importance of local communities having a voice.  She appealed for meetings to be relevant, and not so long that people would disengage.  She looked forward to hearing the outcome of the cross-party review and agreed with Lesley Mansell that existing working arrangements must not be ignored.

Councillor Tim Ball felt that it was essential before moving forward to understand how each community worked.  There was a danger of not reaching some of the smaller communities.  Even in his ward, Twerton, 14 identifiable communities had been identified.

Councillor David Dixon said that the message to communities was not “this is how you must do it”, but was “this is your toolkit”.  It was essential to ask each local community how the Council can get involved.

Councillor Simon Allen referred to the Community Covenant with local businesses in Radstock, which had been involved in creating new signage with pictures in the town.  He felt that in time, the Community Forums would become the accepted way of involving local people.

Councillor Paul Crossley in summing up agreed that local communities defined themselves differently.  He felt the Community Forums were breaking new ground.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Dine Romero, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To NOTE the progress made in implementing the Connecting Communities programme, particularly the establishment of the three Connecting Communities Forums in the Keynsham, Chew Valley and Somer Valley  areas;

(2) To NOTE the removal and reduction in duplication of meetings and therefore savings in staff time arising from this work;

(3) To ASK the Divisional Director (Strategy and Performance) to continue to develop the work of the Forums in order to:

 a) Better understand local needs and priorities

 b) Engage effectively with parishes, partners and local people

 c) Continue to streamline local partnership arrangements and remove duplication

(4) To EXTEND the Connecting Communities Forum approach to Parish Cluster Groups 2 and 3 (encompassing Bathavon North, Bathavon South and Bathavon West wards);

(5) To NOTE that the fourth Bath City Conference is currently proposed to take place in June 2015; and

(6) To REQUEST officers to begin planning for a “conference”- style event for the parished area, comparable to the Bath City Conference.