Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships and the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the Sustainable Communities Act.

Noted the development of procedures and processes to generate and formulate ideas and proposals in relation to the Sustainable Communities Act, in conjunction with the implementation of neighbourhood panels/forums.

By way of a joint report by the Heads of People, Performance and Partnerships and of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were acquainted with the background to the introduction of legislation designed to enable the Council and other organisations to promote the sustainability of local communities.

RESOLVED

  that the development of procedures and processes to generate and consult on ideas and proposals in relation to the Sustainable Communities Act, in conjunction with the implementation of neighbourhood panels/forums, be noted.

To receive a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships and the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the Sustainable Communities Act.

By means of a report by the Heads of People, Performance and Partnerships and of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with the background to the introduction of legislation under which the Council would be empowered to pursue local initiatives aimed at promoting the sustainability of local communities. At the invitation of the Secretary of State, under the Sustainable Communities Act, councils would be able to make proposals for local initiatives but they would have to be the subject of consultation with a representative sample of the local population and with affected agencies.

Having noted the process for the upward transmission of suggestions to the Government and the criteria against which proposals would be assessed, Members were informed that only a limited number of councils appeared to be taking the opportunity to make suggestions following the first request for proposals by the Secretary of State.  In that context and given the need for clarification of the way the process would operate, the Panel concurred with a suggestion that procedures should be developed to generate and formulate ideas and proposals in conjunction with the implementation of neighbourhood panels.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.