Report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support) enclosed.

Members received a report of the Director of Early Intervention and Support to help the Committee make recommendations for new neighbourhood areas following the ward boundary review to be submitted to Executive Cabinet for approval.

Bernie Heggarty, Neighbourhood Priorities Officer, reported that a review of Neighbourhood Working was due to be undertaken and whilst the review is undertaken, it is important that delivery of the programme is still maintained throughout 2020/21. In order to achieve this, the first task of the review is to create new Neighbourhood Areas as a result of the ward boundary changes which will come into effect in May 2020. The proposed recommendation will then be presented to the Executive Cabinet for approval.

To aide discussions, the Committee were provided with four options outlining potential different models. It was also important that the allocated Neighbourhood Priority Budget be considered.

Councillor Roy Lees left the meeting at 7pm.

When considering the options, Members were keen that the meetings in June and July 2020 go ahead as the meetings in January and February had been cancelled. 

Initially, Members considered option 4 as the preferred option but expressed concerns about proposing new groupings without considering the full review of neighbourhood working. It was suggested that the detailed review needed to consider issues such as funding (including CIL monies), representation at meetings including consideration of parished and non-parished areas, definition of neighbourhood working and defining the criteria for projects.

Following further discussion, Councillor Matt Lynch proposed that the June/July meetings go ahead on a ward basis, including the relevant Parish and County Councillors, for a temporary 12-month period until a full review of neighbourhood working had taken place. The funding would be split equally between the 14 new wards. Councillor Terry Brown seconded the proposal.

It was also suggested that a working group be set up in the new municipal year to undertake the full review and make recommendations back to the Executive Cabinet in due course.  

Councillor Julia Berry left the meeting at 7.20pm

Following debate, it was proposed by Councillor Steve Holgate and seconded by Councillor Gillian Sharples that option 4 be recommended for a temporary 12-month period until the full review of neighbourhood working had taken place.

A vote was taken on the proposal and the vote was lost; For: 3, Against: 5, Abstentions: 3.

Subsequently, it was proposed by Councillor Matt Lynch and seconded by Councillor Terry Brown that the meetings take place on a ward basis, with the funding being split equally between the 14 wards, for a temporary 12-month period until the full review of neighbourhood working had taken place.

A vote was taken on the proposal and the vote was carried; For: 8, Against: 2, Abstentions: 1.

It was subsequently RESOLVED that:

1.    The Committee recommend to Executive Cabinet that the forthcoming Neighbourhood Area Meetings take place on a ward basis, with the funding being split equally between the 14 wards, for a temporary 12-month period until the full review of neighbourhood working had taken place.

2.    That a working group be set up in the new municipal year to undertake the full review and make recommendations back to the Executive Cabinet.