Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion held on 27^th March, 2006 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Debbie Marks, Acting Community Involvement Manager, presented a report which provided an update on Community Planning in Rotherham, outlining the processes which the Community Involvement Unit have developed and implemented in order to encourage and strengthen community participation in local decision making structures and service developments. The report explored how the Community Involvement Team have:-

·              Developed geographically based Community Plans across the Borough.

·              Have used information identified by communities to inform key actions in each of the seven Area Plans and Neighbourhood Charters ensuring a clear ‘golden thread’ to the Council’s Corporate Plan and Rotherham Partnership’s Community and Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies.

·              Engaged with Communities of Interest since the creation of the Community Involvement Unit.

·              Ensured that quality assurance mechanisms were in place to monitor the impact local residents have had as a result of engaging in community planning activities.

·              Impacted on strategic documents and Service Delivery Plans, in particular the development of the seven Area Plans for each Area Assembly.

·              Identified potential links via the community planning process for local residents to become involved in Neighbourhood Management.

The report also outlined key actions which the Community Involvement Team would deliver on, celebrate and promote, via various mechanisms, in the next twelve months.

Members asked a range of questions about raising the profile of community planning activity in Rotherham, linkages and opportunities with the new Area Assembly model, the need for a strategic link between key strategies without losing sight of community cohesion, roles of Parish Councils and partnership arrangements for the Co-ordinating Executives of Area Assemblies.

It was noted that Martin Hughes, Community Engagement Manager, was to leave the Local Authority shortly and was joining Sheffield City Council in another role.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the continued development of community planning across the borough be noted and supported.

(2)  That the contribution of the Community Involvement Team in providing opportunities for residents to become involved in decision making processes be noted and supported.

(3)  That the contribution of the Community Involvement Team in providing opportunities for communities of interest to become involved in decision making be noted and supported.

(4)  That the contribution of local community plans in the development of area assembly plans be noted and supported.

(5)  That the appreciation of the work undertaken by Martin Hughes, Community Engagement Manager, be placed on record and he be wished every success in his new role in Sheffield.

Andrew Towlerton, Policy and Research Manager, submitted a report which sought endorsement for the Council’s Consultation and Community Involvement Strategic Framework aiming to deliver improvements in community involvement and consultation activity across the Council.

The Framework set out the Council’s vision, aims and objectives for consultation and community involvement.  It also set out a range of actions to ensure that consultation and community involvement under-pinned and was built into Council policy and service delivery.

This developed the draft that was initially reported to and approved by the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet and agreed in November and been the subject of further internal and external consultation.

The Framework was agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on the 15th March, 2006 and was based on extensive best practice.

Discussion ensued on the need for a multi-agency co-ordinated approach and the need to ensure standards and performance management for consultation.

It was noted that the first part of the Framework incorporated the Council’s good practice, successes and areas for improvement. The Action Plan had also developed further as the objectives changed and the five themes for the Action Plan slightly changed.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Framework be endorsed.

(2)  That regular reports on progress made be received.

Head of Policy and Partnerships to report.

Andrew Towlerton, Policy and Research Manager, submitted a report, which detailed the main findings on the female population in Rotherham

The report represented a wider approach adopted by the Research and Policy Team to help develop a greater understanding of the needs and priorities of the many communities in Rotherham based on the community of interest groups identified in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The findings would have implications for policy and service delivery.

This report was the third in a series of reports which would be produced by the Research and Policy Team over the next twelve months. The Research and Policy team aimed to produce ten reports on the main (and diverse) communities of interest in the borough. To date, two other reports have been completed - older people and the Irish community.   Future reports would cover Pakistani (including Kashmiri), Black, Chinese, Indian, Other Asian, Other White (not British or Irish) and Mixed or Dual Heritage.

Members welcomed this report and its findings, but requested that future reports seek the views and reflect the actual needs of the community, rather than, in some cases, nominated representatives.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the main findings from the report as outlined in Section 7 of this report be noted.

(2)  That the findings of the report be taken into account by Programme Areas in developing policies and services be agreed.

(3)  That the dissemination of the key findings to Programme Areas and interested partner agencies be undertaken.

(4)  That this series of reports to be developed by the Policy and Research Team looking at the needs and priorities of the main (and various) communities of Interest in the borough be noted.

Head of Policy and Partnerships to report re:  various matters.

The Head of Policy and Partnerships drew particular attention to various matters including:-

(a)     C.P.A. Inspection

         It was noted that any key lines of enquiry relating to Community Cohesion, as part of the inspection process, would be reported to the Cabinet Member for information.

(b)     Citizens Advice Bureau

         Letters had been received by all Members of the Council and it was suggested that a co-ordinated response to the content be agreed.

(c)     Gypsy and Travellers

         It was noted that there was growing concern in relation to the provision of an adequate site in Rotherham for the gypsy and traveller communities and it was suggested that a meeting be arranged to consider this issue as a matter of urgency.

Resolved:-  That the relevant actions be undertaken.

Monday, 22^nd May, 2006 at 10.00 a.m. at the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion take place on Monday, 22^nd May, 2006 at 10.00 a.m.