Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood Services submits a report on the Community Governance arrangements provided through Community Services. Members of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission are asked to note the report and make any comments or recommend further action as appropriate.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that provided an update on the Community Governance arrangements. The Director and the Head of Community Services presented the report and explained that one of the aims was to encourage more local people to get involved in volunteering and community management.

The meeting heard that the Community Services staffing review had been completed and as part of the new arrangements there would be five Neighbourhood Development Managers; three of whom were present and introduced to the meeting. There would also be 11 Community Engagement Officers (CEOs) who would support their Neighbourhood Development Managers in a defined geographical area. As part of the new arrangements there would also be a Commercial Development Officer whose role would be to enhance the opportunities for the promotion and marketing of services; this was in response to previous criticisms relating to the lack of marketing.  The various officers would work together to improve the way that community services were delivered in the area.

Councillor Russell, the Assistant City Mayor for Neighbourhood Services explained that the response to the new initiatives had been overwhelmingly positive. Members of the community had more accessible premises and there were benefits to the user groups and the council as a whole.

A query was raised in that the report stated that there were no significant financial implications; the meeting was advised that the organisational review had resulted in financial savings; however the report provided an update and it was not a report on the original organisational review.

Several Members of the commission praised the new community governance arrangements stating that they allowed volunteers and the community to make a positive impact.

A concern was raised that some areas of Leicester would need more officer support time than others and it was queried as to whether this could be managed. The Assistant City Mayor acknowledged that it was important not to be too prescriptive as all the areas were different and some groups would need more support than others.

The Chair questioned whether sufficient time had been programmed in for the new Neighbourhood Development Managers to become acquainted with their patch. The Head of Community Services responded that the Managers would need to know their areas and would be working with the CEOs, staff in local centres and also partners.

The commission heard that there was no ‘end date’ to the initiative. There would be new groups coming forward, but instead of having to draw up new plans and constitutions themselves, they would receive the support and help they needed to access external funding. It was acknowledged that there would need to be an ongoing process for working with the local communities.

The Chair extended a welcome to the new Neighbourhood Development Managers who were already in post. She added that the key to the initiative was partnership arrangements and questioned whether it would be possible to follow up the partnership agreements again.  Members agreed that the views on the experiences of people who had made a partnership agreement should be sought.

RESOLVED:

1)    that the report be noted; and

2)    that members of the commission will visit groups that have entered into partnership agreements to see how they are progressing.