Agenda item

Report of the Director of Communities attached.

Decision made

1.     That the 2021/22 Community Hub Action Plans and Area Profiles be noted;

2.     That the Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) write to the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Community Hubs regarding the need for specific projects in response to local issues and priorities identified for each area and to report back to the Cabinet at its next meeting on 16 June 2021; and

3.     That with regard to the data and intelligence collected for each area profile, where possible officers will baseline the report data to include when it was collected.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building),  Councillor Bylinski Gelder presented a report of the Director of Communities giving details of the 2021/22 Community Hub Action Plans and Area Profiles.

She highlighted the substantial amount of data provided in the area profiles which could be used to inform the further development of action plans.

The Leader noted the lack of specific projects within the action plans relating to local issues identified by the data (e.g. fuel poverty in the Western Parishes) and referred to lack of community engagement (e.g. with parish and town councils).

Councillor Mrs Smith enquired as to how recently the data had been collected. The Director of Communities indicated that the data represented the latest available to the Council, however it may have been collected recently or several years ago depending on the source (e.g. previous census data).

Councillor Bylinski Gelder also indicated that Transformation & Change Team Leader had informed her the data was to be reviewed over the next few weeks.

Other comments and points raised included:

- the difficulties presented by the current pandemic, which may be reflected in the progress made by Community Hubs over the twelve month period;

- The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) providing progress updates to Cabinet on the work of Community Hubs.

Decision made

1.     That the 2021/22 Community Hub Action Plans and Area Profiles be noted;

2.     That the Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) write to the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Community Hubs regarding the need for specific projects in response to local issues and priorities identified for each area and to report back to the Cabinet at its next meeting on 16 June 2021; and

3.     That with regard to the data and intelligence collected for each area profile, where possible officers will baseline the report data to include when it was collected.

Reasons for decision

The report was the first annual presentation of Community Hub Action Plans and Area Profiles. Projects contained in the plans had been discussed and decided upon with members from each of the hubs at planning meetings.

Action plans were drawn up with contributions from of all members, following a cross party review of community involvement.  Best practice in community development was considered as part of this review, with robust action plans agreed as an effective delivery mechanism for community priorities.

The Cabinet would like to see the projects and action plans of the Community Hubs better reflect the local issues identified in the area profiles.

Other options considered and rejected

None, for the reasons given above.

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