Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the Connecting Communities programme and highlights issues for consideration by the Panel.

The Chairman invited David Trethewey (Divisional Director – Policy and Partnership) and Andy Thomas (Group Manager – Partnership Delivery) to introduce the item.

The Panel made the following comments:

The Chairman commented that 4.2 (2) of the report should read 'A quicker response from the Council'.  The Chairman also asked what was the open tender process for the Re:generate Community Organised scheme, what track record and what monitoring is in place and whether or not they are reluctant to share their data.  The Chairman also highlighted page 26 of the report, Asset Transfer, and commented that he would like to see some kind of register of Asset Transfer applications so everyone can see what applications have been made and which of those were successful (and under what criteria). 

The Chairman also commented that page 31 of the report is looking at cluster arrangements and suggested that it would be useful having cross boundary work (i.e. work with partnership organisations in neighbouring authorities). 

The Chairman said that on the page 38 there was no overarching co-ordinated 3rd sector body to look into investment applications, much funding issues and opportunities.

David Trethewey responded that officer thought long and hard where to put the lines for clusters.  There is no coherent approach between agencies across BANES so this will try to recreate governance structure in the area and this will require some time.  These clusters will be supported through a toolkit of approaches, information and opportunities for local projects and joint working.  David Trethewey added that this will not stop joint work with organisations from other authorities. 

David Trethewey suggested that the Panel might want to look at the work that is going in the cluster around the activities that they are responsible for.  A key part of the cluster is to appoint a senior officer as contact point for the particular cluster. 

David Trethewey welcomed a suggestion from the Chairman regarding the register of Asset Transfer applications.

David Trethewey said that BANES is interesting area in terms of voluntary community sector support.  The area is not as big as Bristol or Wiltshire in terms of the capacity which does have an impact on how they, voluntary sector, access available funds.  David Trethewey commented that there is a range of support agencies available and suggested that the Panel could have a separate item on the agenda on that subject.

Peter Duppa-Miller (Secretary of the BANES Local Councils Association) welcomed the initiative.  Peter Duppa-Miller also said that communities in Bath could easier connect with each other whilst communities in North East Somerset not so due to considerable larger distance between communities with inadequate public transport.  The Council should also consider interaction, and connection, between the PACT, existing Parish Cluster Groups and Connecting Communities.  The report also looks to enhance the advocacy of the elected local Councillors. 

The Panel commented that they would wish to have clear understanding on how 'hard to reach' communities are included in this initiative.  Some Panel Members suggested that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

This report sets out a new approach to working with local communities in Bath and North East Somerset called “Connecting Communities”. It identifies the overall Framework jointly adopted by local public services as well as identifying a “Toolkit” of good practice which will be built upon at locality level. The report also outlines the key changes and actions for delivery of Connecting Communities and the benefits expected from this new way of working.

Tony Crouch in a statement [a copy of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 10 and on the Council’s website] welcomed the initiative but expressed some reservations.  He felt that local communities should be taking the lead albeit with a lot of advice from the Council.  He also felt that the phrase “cluster group” might put off some parish and town councils and might be misleading.  Finally, he was concerned that Chew Valley and Keynsham were being proposed as separate cluster groups, despite the fact that they currently formed a single Partnership.

Councillor Paul Myers in an ad hoc statement said he felt that delivery of the proposals would be problematic, and cited the community asset transfer as an example.  He felt that the proposals were short on actual measures to do things.  He said that localism could not be imposed from above – it could only come from the community.

Councillor David Laming in an ad hoc statement observed the failure of the report to mention the river as an asset.  He reported that the Keynsham River Group had been looking at ways to connect Keynsham back to its rivers.

Councillor Paul Crossley introduced the item by thanking Tony Crouch for his contribution and agreeing that cluster boundaries were notoriously difficult to draw; but he acknowledged his point about the Somer Valley Partnership being in 2 separate clusters, and said that the Divisional Director, Policy and Partnerships, would meet with him to discuss his points.

Councillor Crossley advised Councillor Myers that the Council had in fact handed over its first community asset only the day before.  He emphasised that assets should only be handed over when they were clearly right for the community.  He said that in Councillor Myers’ own ward, the Town Hall and the Railway Station were assets which might possibly be transferred.

He referred to the points made by Councillor Laming and said that the proposals before Cabinet were a tool kit, not a geographic map, and so did not contain specific mention of any assets.  He was delighted that this was a road map to connect all the local services – there was already good evidence of this happening in a variety of ways and was delighted to move the proposals.

Councillor David Dixon seconded the proposal.  He had been the Chair of the Local Engagement Steering Group and was pleased to see the more engaging title Connecting Communities.  Communities would be able to tell the Council what they wanted.  He hoped that local councillors would be encouraged to act as community leaders.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor David Dixon, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ADOPT the “Connecting Communities Framework” set out in Appendix One, along with other public service partners working through the Public Services Board;

(2) To REQUEST officers to begin the implementation of the framework through widely publicising the “Core Offer” set out in the “Connecting Communities Toolkit”;

(3) To DELEGATE authority to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 205