Agenda item

Martin Hughes, Head of Neighbourhoods, to present

Martin Hughes, Head of Neighbourhoods, gave the following powerpoint presentation on Ward Plans:-

 

Thriving Neighbourhoods

‘Our vision for Rotherham is for every neighbourhood to be a thriving neighbourhood, where people are able to work together to achieve a good quality of life.  We want to work with local people to find solutions to local issues and to build on our heritage and assets.  We will help create vibrant communities in which people feel happy, safe and proud.  To do this, we will make it easier to get involved in the local community, work closely with our partners and local voluntary and community groups, enhance our town and village centres, green spaces and libraries and effectively tackle community issues’

 

To achieve

-        Neighbourhoods that are safe and welcoming with good community spirit

-        Residents who are happy, healthy and loving where they live

-        Residents are able to use their strengths, knowledge and skills to contribute to the outcomes that matter to them

 

Principles

-        Expanding opportunities for all – target the most help at those who need it so no-one is left behind

-        Recognising and building on our strengths to make positive change – making the best use of local assets, including buildings, parks and public spaces, as well as harnessing the knowledge and skills of community groups and local residents

-        Working with our communities – ensuring residents are at the heart of everything we do.  Involving local residents in the things that matter to them and making sure we design our services based on input from those who use them

-        Focussing on prevention – reduce the risk of problems arising in the first place and when they do, we will intervene to prevent them from worsening

 

Strengths-based Approach

-        Recognising and building on the existing skills, resources, knowledge, experience and heritage within our communities

-        Empowering Councillors, partners and residents to work together to find creative solutions to the local issues that matter most to them

-        Council commitments:-

Place communities at the heart of everything we do

Always ask and listen to ensure we are addressing the things that matter to residents

Be innovative in how we involve residents so that it maximises their skills and knowledge

Problem solve collaboratively with communities ‘ ‘work with’ and not ‘do to’

Identify and support the motivation to act within communities

Nurture relationships within neighbourhoods

Build the capacity and resilience of the community and local community organisations

 

Place-based Approach

-        Ward Councillors as community leaders – bringing people together to tackle locally identified Ward priorities

-        Neighbourhoods Team – facilitate community involvement and co-ordinate local networks and partnerships tackling those local priorities

-        Working collaboratively – with Council services, other service deliverers (e.g. Police, NHS), Parish Councils, voluntary community and faith organisations, residents and other stakeholders

 

Ward Priorities

-        Refreshed and published annually (June) – Ward Plans – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

-        Informed by local data, input and advice from Council services and partners and local community intelligence

-        Include priorities around themes such as:-

Environment – including street scene, parks and green spaces

Community safety and anti-social behaviour

Community resilience and infrastructure including cost of living

Children and young people

Transport and road safety

Physical and mental health and wellbeing

-        13 Wards specifically reference health and welling

 

All children get the best start in life and go on to achieve their potential

-        17 Wards reference children, young people and families

 

All Rotherham people enjoy the best possible mental health and wellbeing and have a good quality of life

-        9 Wards reference mental health

 

All Rotherham people live well for longer

-        2 Wards reference supporting older people

 

All Rotherham people live in healthy, safe and resilient communities

-        All 25 Wards include priorities that impact on the wider determinants of health

-        Employment and the economy – 3 Wards

-        Crime and community safety – 21 Wards

-        Environment – 24 Wards

-        Housing and tenancies – 3 Wards

-        Planning – 2 Wards

-        Culture, Leisure, Sport and Green Spaces – 13 Wards

-        Supporting local community groups – 16 Wards

-        Cost of living – 13 Wards

-        Covid recovery – 7 Wards

-        Loneliness and isolation – 8 Wards

 

Going forward – supporting delivery of the Board’s aims and priorities within neighbourhoods

-        Strengthen the link between the Strategy and Ward priorities/plans

-        Regular reporting on activity taking place in neighbourhoods to the Board and providing evidence of impact

-        Use the Strategy to inform future Ward priorities

-        Use community intelligence to inform future strategic aims and priorities

-        Raise the profile of the Strategy with Ward Members and residents

-        Promotion of place-based and strengths-based working

-        Promotion of early intervention and prevention

-        Strengthen partnership working within neighbourhoods

-        Shared learning and development

 

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

 

·        There were 25 Wards in the Borough but neighbourhoods were a lot smaller than a Ward

·        Neighbourhoods worked to a Ward-based model primarily; Primary Care geographically did not align neatly but did not mean there could not be conversations with GP practices

·        Baseline data from Public Health would be sought for any project such as oral health to assess where there had been a particular impact although a lot of the information was from case studies/anecdotal

·        The projects highlighted in the presentation were to illustrate how neighbourhoods were working to translate the Strategy into work.  Officers and Members could share good practice and thereby cascade across the Borough

 

Resolved:-  That the presentation be noted.