Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Neighbourhood Working meeting held on 18 December 2014 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary 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 declarations of any interests were received.

To follow.

The Group considered the responses received from Adlington Town Council, Anderton, Bretherton, Charnock Richard, Heskin and Whittle-le-Woods Parish Councils to the consultation on Neighbourhood Working.

The main issues raised were around improved communications between the tiers of government particularly in relation to the progress being made against each of the neighbourhood priorities.

There did seem to be some reluctance about contributing financially and the group felt that some parishes would benefit from some training to help them engage more effectively with the process.

The Health, Environment and Neighbourhoods service would respond directly to any individual comments/issues raised.

RESOLVED – That the responses be noted.

The draft Final Report for consideration (enclosed) 

The Final Report will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 January 2015. 

The Group considered the draft final report of the Neighbourhood Working review and made a number of amendments to the wording of the report.

Members considered it important for each Neighbourhood Area Meeting to have the provision to be able to call a Neighbourhood Forum that would be open for residents to attend on a specific topic in order to gauge views and opinions. This recommendation would be added to the report.

The Group concluded that the success of Neighbourhood Working is not totally reliant on the Council so it was important that we continue to work with and consult with existing stakeholders to understand their strength of engagement and to explore better ways of working together in partnership.

The Chair commented that the representations received have proved extremely invaluable and enabled the Group to produce a set of recommendations that they felt will improve the current arrangements to better serve the residents in their experience of living in their communities.

RESOLVED – That the Final Report be updated in line with the Groups suggested amendments and circulated to the Group for approval before submitting to the next meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 January.