Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to present the Community Engagement and Development Strategy – Our People, Our Place to Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Community Engagement Manager presented the report which outlined the Community Engagement Strategy and Action Plan for 2024-27. A report had previously been brought to the Committee to seek views of Members on the development of the strategy.

A public consultation was then held via the Council’s website and direct opportunities were offered to the voluntary and community sector organisations within South Kesteven to comment on the proposed content. The response to the consultation was higher from residents than it was from community groups, with general agreement of what was proposed.

It was clarified that the strategy would be amended to reflect the new Corporate Plan and the plan would become a living document and could be developed over time.

The Council’s Armed Forces Lead Member made the following statement:

‘As Armed Forces Lead Member, I welcome the inclusion of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Armed Forces Community and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in the proposed Community Engagement and Development Strategy.  I further welcome the Armed Forces actions included in the accompanying Action Plan 2024 – 2027.  I support the recommendation at Item 9 of today’s meeting that the Committee recommends to Cabinet its adoption to complement the Council’s emerging corporate priority of Connected Communities.

I will also suggest a few minor amendments to the Action Plan for your consideration as follows:

-          Sixth action –  ‘Continue to ensure the Council’s compliance with the Armed Forces Act and its associated duties’.  Include elected Members in ‘What success means’ (Well-informed officers who understand what is necessary to comply with the Act).

-          Ninth action – ‘Develop an effective working relationship with the Lincolnshire Armed Forces Officer to explore opportunities for collaboration’.  Add a similar action for the Armed Forces Lead Member / Champion to ‘develop an effective working relationship with the Lincolnshire Armed Forces Champion’.

-          Seventeenth action – ‘Encourage staff within food businesses to sign up as Army catering Reserves for training/upskilling’:

-          Amend designations to read ‘167 Catering Support Regiment RLC’ and ‘Army Reserve catering school’.

-          Add ‘Encourage SKDC Members and staff to sign up as Army Reserves for training in the range of command and control, contract management, labour support, catering and logistic support jobs available’ partnering ‘PWoG Barracks Army reserve units’ with success meaning ‘To increase reservist sign up across a range of military disciplines with consequent individual, collective and organisational benefits to SKDC’.’

One Member suggested that Members be included within the engagement of

Communities.

The Head of Services (Revenues, Benefits, Customer and Community) clarified that Members would be made aware of anything that came out of the  plan on a case by case basis, rather than the inclusion of an action relating specifically to Members.

One Member queried whether there was an age limit on reserve training.

It was confirmed that there was an age limit of 43 years old for the reserves and was wider than it was for the regulars. 

It was further requested that the strategy and plan include the involvement of elected Members being consulted.

The Committee were reassured that the report would come back every six months, and Officers would ensure that elected Members be updated.

The Committee and report author accepted the suggested amendments.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that the Committee:

1. Considers the Community Engagement and Development Strategy and recommends to Cabinet its adoption to complement the Council’s emerging corporate priority of Connected Communities.

2. Following the implementation of the Community Engagement and Development Strategy this Committee agrees to receive an update every six months on the progress and delivery of the Action Plan.