Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approve the refreshed Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy (2018-2025).

2.    That Cabinet agree that the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy Delivery Plan and Full Equality Analysis are developed by April 2023 and presented to the Improving Places Select Commission in Spring 2023.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the refreshed Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy. The original Strategy had been approved by Cabinet in November 2018. However, since the publication of the new Council Plan (2022-25), it was seen as an opportune time to refresh the Strategy, taking into account the ambitions in the Council Plan and acknowledging that the Council’s Neighbourhood Working Model was well embedded and evolving. This was evidenced by annual reports presented to Improving Places Select Commission and the Ward reports presented by Elected Members to each Council meeting. The Council Plan had further developed the Council’s vision under it’s “Every Neighbourhood Thriving” theme.

The main differences in the refreshed Strategy, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, were:

·       A foreword from the Deputy Leader / Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.

·       Reference to the Council’s ‘Place-Based’ and ‘Strengths-Based’ approaches.

·       Greater emphasis on the role of the Councillor, referencing Birmingham University’s 21st Century Councillor Model.

·       Reference to how success is measured.

·       Links to relevant webpages, which illustrate the progress made since

·       2018.

·       Removal of case studies – as there are now other avenues to promote these such as ward e-bulletins, ward webpages and Members’ annual ward reports to Council.

On approval of the refreshed Strategy, it was proposed to develop a Delivery Plan, which would capture the key components of the Neighbourhood Working Model, how the Model would continue to evolve and how the impact would be measured. The Delivery Plan would be developed in consultation with local communities, Elected Members and other stakeholders between January and March 2023. This would also help further promote the Neighbourhood Working Model and the role of Elected Members as community leaders within their Wards. On completion, the Delivery Plan would inform the key milestones for Every Neighbourhood Thriving theme within the Council Plan’s Year Ahead Delivery Plan. It was recommended that the completed Delivery Plan be presented to Improving Places Select Commission in Spring 2023.

 Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approve the refreshed Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy (2018- 2025).

2.    That Cabinet agree that the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy Delivery Plan and Full Equality Analysis are developed by April 2023 and presented to the Improving Places Select Commission in Spring 2023.