Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Judith Boothman, Magda Cullens, Cath Hoyle, Keith Iddon, Michael Muncaster and Shaun Smith.  

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No Members declared an interest in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

• Presentation by Paul Lusk, the consultant appointed to guide and advises the inquiry on neighbourhood working.

• The Panel to interview the following officers in connection with the ongoing inquiry into neighbourhood working

Chief Executive, Donna Hall

Director of Finance, Gary Hall

The following reports are attached for Members information:

·        A copy of the initial report entitled ‘The Scope and Prospects of Neighbourhood Working in Chorley’

·        The Position Statement submitted by the Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment to the last Panel meeting held on 16 July.

The Panel received a presentation from Paul Lusk, the consultant appointed to guide and advise on the Neighbourhood Working Inquiry.

The presentation pulled together the evidence collected throughout the Inquiry.  Members noted the key points, including the factors identified for making Neighbourhood Working a success and those to be avoided. 

The Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment highlighted the key points within his report and outlined the three identified options.  Option One (the Pathfinder model), Option Two (Neighbourhood teams) and Option Three (Neighbourhood teams plus).  The Council was already working in a way that supports neighbourhoods, including Community Forums and work in the customer facing Directorates. 

Members discussed the options with the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance and it was AGREED that Option One was not achievable for Chorley.  The Panel agreed to build on Neighbourhood Working arrangements already in place, such as those with Parish Councils, Community groups, the Local Strategic Partnership, Lancashire County Council, the Police. 

Members considered the impact of the new Local Government White Paper and noted there were references to Parish Councils and Community Call for Action that linked in to Neighbourhood Working. 

Members agreed flexibility would be important as each neighbourhood would have different needs and the take up would vary in each area.  There was a need to focus on intelligence led allocation of resources. 

It was AGREED that a report be produced outlining the recommendations of the Neighbourhood Working Inquiry based on:

·                    A reconsideration of the eight neighbourhoods proposed, to take into account the seven County Council organisational divisions,

·                    Building on existing work and relationships with statutory and community organisations,

·                    An additional two Neighbourhood Officers, one Community Development officer and a Neighbourhood analyst

·                    Additional funding for local spending for neighbourhood working should be explored further.

It was AGREED that the report would be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in October and the Executive Cabinet in November.