Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, DCC.

The Board received a report on the Community Engagement Review, presented by the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement (for copy see file of minutes).

The Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement explained that Cabinet had agreed at their meeting in June 2021 a range of changes around community engagement and recognised the need to explore further enhancements.  He noted that in June 2022, ERS Consultants were commissioned to undertake a review of community engagement and Area Action Partnerships (AAPs).  The Board were informed of the findings of ERS Consultants, including noting that the existing model of community engagement offered a number of positives to communities and wider partners.  It was noted there were four main themes: model; boundaries; funding; and community development.  It was noted that the model would look to build upon Task and Finish Groups, themed and renamed as ‘community networks’, and open to all rather than just a core membership.  It was noted that in terms of boundaries and numbers of networks, there had been three recommendations, based upon keeping the existing boundaries, though splitting the East Durham AAP area into two or three, align with electoral boundaries post Electoral Boundary Review and have seven ‘community networks’, or align with the 13 NHS Primary Care Network Boundaries, though with 14 ‘networks’, splitting the Derwentside PCN area into two.  The Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement noted the options put forward in terms of potential funding, including a ‘community chest’ to allow for small grants of up to £300, larger ‘strategic grants’ over a four year period to replace area grants, and a simplified approach in terms of Members’ Neighbourhood Budgets.  It was explained that consultation on the recommendations and proposed model would be undertaken during March – April, with the model presented to Cabinet in June for implementation thereafter.

The Director of Integrated Community Services noted the boundary options set out in paragraph 28 of the report, the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement noted they were to: remain effectively as the AAP boundaries, except splitting East Durham AAP; to follow revised Electoral Boundaries after the next election, or aligned to the 13 NHS Primary Care Network Boundaries, though with 14 ‘networks’, splitting the Derwentside PCN area into two. 

Councillor R Bell asked how partners could help feed into the consultation, taking into account the health perspective.  The Director of Integrated Community Services noted that he and the Head of Integrated Commissioning were working on Neighbourhood Teams and therefore he felt they could be made co-terminus. 

It was noted that the comments made by the Board today would be fed into the review and the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement asked Health and Wellbeing Board Members to respond to the consultation on the website if they had any further comments.

Resolved:

(a)      That the findings and recommendations of ERS consultants’ final report, in particular the proposal for the funding proposals to be approved by the thematic groups of the County Durham Partnership be noted.

(b)      That the approach to a public county wide consultation be noted.