Issue - meetings

Government has appointed the national organisation Locality to lead on delivering a national programme to recruit and train Community Organisers across England who will work to enable people to take action on their own behalf to tackle the issues that are important to them. The report provides an update on the programme as it is being introduced in Bath and North East Somerset

Councillor Paul Crossley proposed the recommendations.  He said that the proposals were a response to the Big Society agenda launched by government.  The Council’s aim was to help some community organisers become more effective.

Councillor Simon Allen seconded the proposal.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Simon Allen, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To WELCOME the introduction of five community organisers into Bath and North East Somerset as part of the national scheme;

(2) To ENCOURAGE action to Regenerate Community Trust (RE:generate) as the local host for the scheme to work closely with local elected members, community groups, parish councils and other local forums and public service bodies to maximise the effectiveness of the initiative;

(3) To AGREE that the Council enter into a Co-operation Agreement with RE:generate as set out in the report;

(4) To ASK Officers to work with the scheme to identify service improvements and potential cost savings from improved working with the local community; and

(5) To AGREE that feedback and learning from the Community Organisers Programme and its impact locally will be used to identify opportunities for linking to existing or emerging forms of community engagement.