The report of the Assistant Chief Executive was submitted, seeking the approval of Executive to the Council’s proposed approach to Community Involvement and the identified priority neighbourhoods of the city as a focus for one aspect of the Council’s involvement work. The views of Executive were also sought on the future format of the Community Forums.
The Assistant Chief Executive identified the main drivers for the initiative including the “Duty to Involve” introduced by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act which was designed to ensure that local people have greater opportunities to influence decision-making.
Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 November 2009 and the comments and concerns of members were noted.
A Member expressed concern that the Area Liaison Officers would duplicate the role of Councillors and also queried whether working alongside the PACT meetings was the most effective vehicle for public engagement. Another member expressed particular concern at the principle of extending the initiative at a time when the Council was under considerable financial pressures and queried the financial contribution that the Police would be making to the initiative.
The Assistant Chief Executive responded that the previous My Neighbourhood pilot scheme had cost £51,000 compared with proposed expenditure of £33,000 for the current initiative. The financial contribution of the Police would include the promotion of the PACT meetings through leafleting and part-funding the training programme. Whilst initial discussions with Devon County Council and other partners had indicated their support for the scheme, the approval of Executive was being sought before engaging in more detailed discussions. The payment of an honorarium to the Area Liaison Officers reflected the requirement to work additional hours and beyond the scope of their day-to-day jobs.
Other members noted the considerable success of the My Neighbourhood pilot scheme and welcomed the proposals to extend the initiative. A member reported on how the work of the Community Consultation and Engagement Officer had complemented and enhanced her role as Councillor rather than encroached on it. The scheme enabled Councillors to make direct contact with a much broader sector of the community than would otherwise have been possible.
Members discussed how the initiative would operate alongside PACT and many felt that this would be an effective way of working with partners. Issues were frequently raised at PACT meetings which were outside the remit of the Police and related directly to the services provided by partners such as the City or County Council. Members also referred to the “Duty to Involve” and the desire to improve the dialogue between the Council and residents. The Area Liaison Officers were intended to support and extend the work of Councillors and were not intended to supercede their role.
Executive supported the proposals in relation to the future of Community Forums. In response to a question, the Assistant Chief Executive stated that it was the intention that the Forums should continue to meet at the Guildhall.
Noting the options available and for the reasons stated in the report Executive resolved that:-
(1) the proposed pilot My Neighbourhood/PACT model of Community Involvement be approved for introduction in the eight areas of Exeter identified in the report; and
(2) the Community Forum model proposed in the report be agreed and further consultation takes place with Local Strategic Partnership partners on the thematic areas and format.
In accordance with Standing Order 43, Councillors Edwards and Mrs Henson requested that their names be recorded as having voted against the resolution.