City and County of Cardiff Dinas a Sir Caerdydd
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CITY AND COUNTY OF CARDIFF DINAS A SIR CAERDYDD COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL 25 April 2002 CABINET PROPOSAL AGENDA ITEM: Community Planning Background 1. On 21 September 2000 the Council approved the development of a partnership- based community strategy. This reflects the fact that community planning is a key component of the Government’s modernisation agenda and the Council continues to be at the vanguard of the development of community planning in Wales. The Council has taken into account the advice of the National Assembly and is continuing to learn from and help shape best practice by its participation in the Audit Commissions Quality of Life pilot project and the Local Government Information Unit’s Community Planning network. 2. In the last year the Council has continued to work with partners to develop indicators for the Community Strategy, launched Action Forums on Race Equality and the Anti Litter Strategy, undertaken a partnership audit, and tied the Community Strategy into the budgetary and policy development cycles of the Council. This report provides an update on progress in delivering community planning in Cardiff and outlines a work programme for 2002-2003. Issues Emerging from the Congress 3. At the second Capital Congress, which was entitled ‘Time for Delivery’, 100 community planning partners agreed changes to the draft strategy, which is attached to this report as Appendix A. In part, this reflected the results of an extensive survey undertaken in Capital Times that received 2,474 responses. A summary of the results is attached as Appendix B. Capital Congress also agreed the Performance Indicator framework and, at a series of workshops, began evaluating the potential for the delivery of objectives through partnership working. Keynote presentations were also made at Congress exploring the role of local authorities as community leaders and the potential of the new well-being power. Delegates received updates on Cardiff’s Capital of Culture bid and a progress report on the Sports Village. Page 1 of 5 Developing Indicators/Targets 4. The Community Strategy indicators have been developed from three main sources: Audit Commission – Quality of Life Indicators Pilot Project; Policy Agreement Indicators; and the Cardiff Local Sustainability Strategy Indicators. The indicators have been subject to detailed consultation with community planning partners. Indicators/targets will be monitored via the existing performance monitoring mechanisms, with service areas taking the lead in ensuring that targets for their areas of responsibility are met via their key partnerships. 5. The results of an audit of all the Council’s partnerships are currently being analysed in detail but early indications are that strategic partnership do exist for most primary areas of the Community Strategy. However, where gaps in strategic partnerships are identified new partnerships will be established. These strategic partnerships, led by the appropriate service areas, will play a central role in developing targets and an Action Plan for the Community Strategy. The full results and conclusions of the audit will be reported to Cabinet in the near future. Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 6. An overarching Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy will be central to enabling the Council to work for and with communities to exercise leadership at a local level and to promote well being. In effect the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy will be a key mechanism for enabling local councillors and communities to develop local Community Strategy Implementation Plans. This will be key to not only ensuring that the Community Strategy is delivered at a local level but also that local communities have the opportunity to shape and influence neighbourhood priorities. 7. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy will ultimately comprise of a number of sections for different areas of the city and will reflect the variation between areas. In the most deprived areas of the city the Community First projects being developed by the Council and its partners will provide a comprehensive approach to addressing needs in the area. In other areas less intensive approaches will be used which reflect the particular priorities within each locality. 8. On 21 June 2001 Committee of the Council agreed that a Community Strategy Implementation Team should be established and co-ordinated by SPANR. The timing is now right to establish this team comprising of senior representatives of all service areas. It is proposed that the delivery of Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies should be led and steered by this Implementation Team. A Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy programme will be developed and prioritised based on the results of the Cardiff Deprivation Profiles. Page 2 of 5 Community Strategy Implementation Group 9. As anticipated the audit of all the Council’s existing partnerships has highlighted that a number of partners are involved in numerous partnerships and will therefore be key to delivering the objectives of the Community Strategy. It is proposed that senior representative of the Police, Local Health Group, the University, Environment Agency Wales, Race Equality First, Chamber of Commerce, Housing Associations, Voluntary Action Cardiff, Employment Services and other key organisations should be invited to become member on a Community Strategy Implementation Group along with the Lord Mayor and Chief Executive or their representatives. 10. The wider community planning partnership will continue to be central to the ongoing development, monitoring and reviewing of the strategy. It is important, however, that the Implementation Group is assigned responsibility for: · driving the delivery of the Strategy; · ensuring the co-operation of key organisations; · aligning the Community Strategy objectives with business planning processes of partner organisations; and · ensuring that targets and objectives are met. 11. The Implementation Group will also provide an additional forum for high level discussions on strategic issues affecting Cardiff that can then be fed into the existing decision making processes. 12. Capital Congress will remain the major annual December community planning conference involving the Council and partner organisations. The Congress will continue to ratify and monitor the Cardiff Community Strategy, and chart progress towards achieving the City’s long-term vision and goals. The ratified strategy will have a major influence on the Council’s budget setting process. The process charts attached at Appendix C highlights how the community planning process fits within the wider strategic agenda. The process chart attached at Appendix D shows the implementation process for delivering the objectives of the Community Strategy. Community Planning Programme 2002 13. The community planning programme for 2002: · April – Capital Forum – Agenda determined by Implementation Group · 18 June – LGIU Network Meeting on Community Planning – City Hall · 27 June Capital Forum – City Hall · 10 September Capital Forum – County Hall · 3 December - Capital Congress – City Hall Page 3 of 5 ADVICE This report has been prepared in consultation with Corporate Managers and reflects their collective advice. It contains all the information necessary to allow Members to arrive at a reasonable view, taking into account the advice contained in this section. The Chief Executive is responsible for dealing with this report. Legal Implications Under section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 the Council must prepare a strategy for promoting or improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom. The reference to the United Kingdom is taken to mean that whilst a local authority may act locally, it will take a broad view of the overall impact of its local action. The Council may from time to time modify their community strategy. In preparing or modifying their community strategy, the Council (a) must consult and seek the participation of such persons as they consider appropriate, and (b) must have regard to any guidance for the time being issued by the National Assembly for Wales. Financial Implications There are no financial implications arising directly from this report. Capital Congress will remain the major annual December community planning conference involving the Council and partner organisations. The Congress will continue to ratify and monitor the Cardiff Community Strategy, and chart progress towards achieving the City’s long-term vision and goals. The ratified strategy will have a major influence on the Council’s budget setting process. Consequences In order to further develop the community planning agenda in Cardiff, the Council needs to consider the mechanisms required delivering the Cardiff Community Strategy. At a strategic level these need to include a ‘core’ partnership that will ensure the co-ordination of community planning and the involvement of key partnerships. At a local level the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy will have a central role to play in the delivery of the shared objectives of partners and the Council. BYRON DAVIES Chief Executive 14 September 2001 Background Papers: Appendix A – Community Strategy. Appendix B – Summary of Community Planning Survey Results. Appendix C – Process Chart. Appendix D – Process Chart. Page 4 of 5 CABINET PROPOSALS Council agree that: (1) the draft Community Strategy and indicators be adopted; (2) Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies be established as set out in paragraphs 6