Issue - meetings

To set out proposals on how the Council will engage with residents to receive feedback on services and better understand residents’ needs.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Endorse the approach taken to consultation.

The Committee received a report setting out proposals on how the Council will engage with residents to receive feedback on services and better understand residents’ needs.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Engagements with Veterans. The Committee considered the importance of engaging with and supporting veterans, and noted that the Armed Forces Champion was investigating opportunities to meet with key representatives from organisations within the Armed Forces sector.

b)            Engagement with Young People. The Committee considered the importance of engaging with the youth of the Borough. It was considered that opportunities could be explored with Nescot and UCA, amongst other organisations, to run events such as Q&A panels for students. It was noted that the Council used to run a Local Democracy Day, where Councillors would visit local schools to talk with students.

c)            Councillor Community Involvement. The Committee considered the importance of Councillors being involved in and having a presence in the community. UCA, Nescot, and the Longmead Community Centre were listed as possible partners/venues to hold events for people in the local community to engage with Councillors directly.

d)            Council Presence at Community Events. The Committee considered the importance of the Council having a visible presence at community events (i.e. uniformed officers, Council stands, etc.).

e)            Working with Partners. The Committee considered the importance of working with partners to reach seldom heard groups. The Head of Housing and Community explained that much of the work historically delivered by the Council is nowadays delivered instead through partnerships with other organisations.

f)             Engagement Strategy. The Acting Director of Corporate Services suggested that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to community engagement, and that the most suitable approach is often determined on a case-by-case basis. He explained that the Councils Communications Strategy acts as a guiding document for consultations and other form of engagement with the public.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Endorse the approach taken to consultation.