Agenda and minutes

Agreed as accurate records.

To confirm the items of business marked Part I will be considered in public and that the items marked Part II will be considered in private.

It was agreed that all items of business would be considered in public.

Discussion took place on possible review topics for the Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

Reference was made to a possible review looking at the external funding / grants which Council departments bid for and the success of this bidding. The Chairman acknowledged that at this stage it would be more beneficial for Members to receive a report and a brief presentation from officers at a future meeting on this area, rather than undertaking a review.

Members had a brief discussion on the Voluntary and Community Sector and asked that officers be invited to a future meeting to talk about the impact the recession has had on this important sector, and the impact on the Council.

Members were informed that the data from the Census 2011 would soon be released, and a possible review could be the Committee looking at this data in relation to the planning and the delivery of Council services. It was agreed that this be the Committee’s second review topic for later in the Municipal Year.

An area which this Committee looked at in 2007/8 was Community Cohesion. Members were reminded that Community Cohesion was about a sense of belonging, valuing diversity, tackling inequalities and promoting interaction to develop positive relationships within a community.

Members agreed that it would be an opportune time to revisit this topic and look at the possible implications the recession has had on Community Cohesion within the Borough. This particular review would fall within the Committee’s remit of partnerships and would require the support of the External Services Scrutiny Committee, who annually scrutinised this area.

Officers were asked to produce a draft scoping report on the topic, together with a background paper which would provide Members with a summary of some of the work undertaken by the Council and partner organisations in the Borough in relation to Community Cohesion. 

RESOLVED –

1.      That approval be given to the actions outlined above.

2.  That the first major review of this Committee would be to look at the possible implications the recession has had on Community Cohesion within the Borough.           

After discussions with officers, the Work Programme for the Committee would be updated to reflect discussion on review topics for the Municipal Year.

Noted.

Noted.