Issue - meetings

(See report at Agenda Item 6 (pages 48 - 66) of the Cabinet papers of 12 July 2016.)

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION

That the Community Strategy 2016-2021 be adopted.

Mrs Lintill (Cabinet Member for Community Services), seconded by Mr Dignum, moved the recommendation of the Cabinet.

She explained that Chichester in Partnership (CIP) had been formed in 2002.  The Local Government Act 2000 placed a duty on local authorities to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their areas, and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. This was rescinded in 2012, but unlike other Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) CIP had continued to flourish, becoming more focussed, with action plans and strategies being developed, priorities set, outcomes planned and projects delivered. In December 2015 partners had felt the existing SCS to be dated and not reflecting the ethos of the Partnership. They had agreed to complete a light touch review of the SCS in consultation with the core and wider partnership. The result was a new strategy that was shorter and easier to read with fewer priorities. Each partner was being asked to take the revised SCS through its formal approval process.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed the work of the CIP each year, and had recommended approval of the revised strategy. The Committee had also recommended that “consideration is given to establishing an emergency fund for Chichester in Partnership for the period 2016-2021 to ensure its ability to function in times of hardship.”

In consequence of this, the Cabinet had approved an amendment to the second recommendation, which was set out on the update sheet.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Community Strategy 2016-2021 be adopted.

(2)  That a £10k funding reserve be made available, to be managed by the Cabinet Member for Community Services and the Head of Community Services as the Council’s representatives to Chichester in Partnership, in order to attract match funding to support new or existing projects with proven benefits to vulnerable residents that would otherwise fail for lack of short term funding.

The current sustainable community strategy has been in place since 2009. Chichester in Partnership has completed a “light touch” review of the document. The Council is asked to adopt this revised strategy.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1)  That the Community Strategy 2016-21 be adopted.

(2)  That a £10k funding reserve be made available, to be managed by the Cabinet Member for Communities and the Head of Community Services as the Council’s representatives to Chichester in Partnership, in order to attract match funding to support new or existing projects with proven benefits to vulnerable residents that would otherwise fail for lack of short term funding.

The Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mrs Lintill introduced the report. She reminded the Cabinet that Chichester in Partnership (CIP) had been formed in 2002.  The Local Government Act 2000 placed a duty on local authorities to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their areas, and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. This was rescinded in 2012, but unlike other Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) CIP had continued to flourish, becoming more focussed, with action plans and strategies being developed, priorities set, outcomes planned and projects delivered. In December 2015 partners agreed to complete a light touch review of the SCS in consultation with the core and wider partnership. The result was a new strategy that was shorter and easier to read with fewer priorities. Each partner was being asked to take the revised SCS through its formal approval process.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed the work of the CIP each year, and had recommended approval of the revised strategy. The Committee had also recommended that “consideration is given to establishing an emergency fund for Chichester in Partnership for the period 2016-2021 to ensure its ability to function in times of hardship.”

In consequence of this, she proposed an amendment to the second recommendation in the report, which was duly carried.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1)  That the Community Strategy 2016-21 be adopted.

(2)  That a £10k funding reserve be made available, to be managed by the Cabinet Member for Community Services and the Head of Community Services as the Council’s representatives to Chichester in Partnership, in order to attract match funding to support new or existing projects with proven benefits to vulnerable residents that would otherwise fail for lack of short term funding.