Agenda and minutes

Councillor Adrian Lowe was appointed to act as Chair of the Neighbourhood Working Sub-Group.

Members of the Working Group are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to influence a decision on the matter

No Member declared any interests in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Greg Morgan.

The Sub Group is to interview selected witnesses in connection with the ongoing inquiry into Neighbourhood Working.

The main theme for the meeting is:” Would neighbourhood working add value?”

The following officers will be interviewed.

Richard Crossley Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Donna Hall, Chief Executive, Chorley Council

Gary Hall, Director of Finance

Jamie Carson, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.

Attached are the questions the Panel would like to put to the Officers as well as a witness-briefing note.

The main theme for the meeting was “Would neighbourhood working add value”.  The Sub-Group interviewed the following selected witnesses in connection with the ongoing inquiry into Neighbourhood Working:

?       Richard Crossley, Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

?       Donna Hall, Chief Executive, Chorley Council

?       Gary Hall, Director of Finance

?       Jamie Carson, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services

Members of the Sub-Group put forward the following questions along with the responses.

Question 1

What, in your view, is neighbourhood working?

Please consider:  What makes this way of working different and special?  What does it do, that traditional approaches do not?

         Richard Crossley:

         Neighbourhood working is the local organisation, co-ordination and delivery of core citizen and community services within neighbourhoods.

         This answer begs other questions:

         How do we define ‘local’ and ‘neighbourhood;?

         Which services?

         It’s different and special because

         a)      it is about mainstream services – not solely about ‘projects’

         b)      its long-term, not time-limited

         c)      it provides a framework for residents, service providers and councillors to take a strategic view of a neighbourhood, to analyse the issues, to work out and deliver solutions.

         d)      its flexible, and so can focus on the issues of the neighbourhood – which will vary neighbourhood to neighbourhood.

         Donna Hall:

         It is when all organisations, key partners come together such as the Police, Connexions, Schools in a locality to meet the challenges of the area.  In particular it meets the particular issues and makes progress on the key issues.

         It needs to be differential.

         It refers to local organisations with local co-ordination and delivery of core services in a defined neighbourhood.

         The defined neighbourhood depends on the number of people in the area, the geographical footprint and issues.

         Gary Hall:

         Reference was made to the capacity to develop the issue and to make it effective is dependent upon resources.  To get it right the Council must have the resources both financial and staff, as its role as community leader.

Question 2

What evidence is there that it achieves better services?

If so, how?  How does it achieve these results?

         Richard Crossley:

         The Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder programme has an on-going evaluation – the reports are all on our web-site.  Attached is a summary of the last full report.

         The evidence is that neighbourhood management is most effective in the short term in tackling issues such as local crime, and environmental services.  The evidence also shows it brings added value in terms of:

         ?      Coherent solutions to problems that often cross service provider boundaries

         ?      Promotes networking and improved relationships between service providers at the local level

         ?       It can improve accessibility of services

         ?      Provides an environment of innovation and new working practices

         ?      Brings residents and service providers together

         ?      Helps strengthen community involvement

         Donna Hall:

         Reference was made to extra funding being made available.  Pathfinder has had small amounts of Government funding approximately £250,000 per year.  Reference was made to possible partnership arrangements with adjoining local authorities such as South Ribble Borough Council.

         Jamie Carson:

         There has been local neighbourhood working in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.