Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence of Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Jackie Ramsey.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4^th October 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4^th October 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

The Chair provided updates as follows:

(i) Further to pre-decision scrutiny by the Committee at its meeting in November 2021 and informally in September 2022, the Kirklees Community and Social Enterprise Investment Strategy and the ‘We are Working Alongside’ Shared Values had been approved by Cabinet on 20^th October 2022 (Minute 38 2021/22)

(ii) The Communities Partnership Plan 2022-2027 had been approved by Council on 12 October 2022. Scrutiny of the draft plan had been carried out by this Committee at meetings in November 2021 and June 2022 (Minutes 37 (2021/22) and 10 (22/23))

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were heard in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public.

A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

No deputations or petitions were received.

The meeting will hear any questions from the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

No questions were asked.

A report will be presented which provides an update in respect of the Inclusive Communities Framework, including an overview of the Council’s high-level implementation plan.

Contact:

Jill Greenfield - Service Director, Customer and Communities

Jo Richmond – Head of Communities

A report was submitted which provided an update in respect of the Inclusive Communities Framework, including an overview of the Council’s plans for implementation and a response to the issues raised by the Committee at its meeting on 28^th June 2022.

Mel Meggs - Strategic Director, Children and Families and Jo Richmond – Head of Communities attended the meeting to present the report and answer Members’ questions. The following points were highlighted:

·       A simplified, more accessible version of the framework had been produced.

·       The open engagement process and details of those who had contributed.

·       The strengthened focus on action; the self-evaluation process would result in action plans which would be collated, monitored and evaluated.

·       How the framework would work.

·       The key roles of those involved in implementing the framework, both within the Council and partners, and including elected members.

·       The annual cycle of implementation.

·       The self-evaluation tool, which would become web based.

·       An indicative high-level implementation plan.

·       Examples of past good practice.

·       A list of early adopters; it was anticipated that there would be significant learning from the experience of early adopters in completing the self-evaluation and adjustments would be made as appropriate.

Stephen Bonnell, Head of Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning was in attendance to talk about the use of the Inclusive Communities Framework and self-evaluation tool by his teams, to assist them in considering their approach and how this might be improved. One example of its use was to support the development and delivery of the other top-tier strategies, in line with the principles and approaches set out in the framework. This had led to amendments and improvements being made and specific examples were given in respect of the Economic Strategy and Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The principles had also been used in the early development of the next Council Plan.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·       The Inclusive Communities Framework toolkit would facilitate use of the principles and approaches by different organisations and services at all different levels of operational work. Examples were given which illustrated how it would help and challenge people to think differently about engagement, ensuring equal contribution from voices from the community as well as statutory partners, and building a community-led response.

·       Care needed to be taken that the voices being heard actually reflected the views of a community. The majority of people did not attend community meetings. It was very important that the approach was built around ward councillors as they had a mandate for their communities; hearing and representing a wide range of views and experiences.

·       It was better to focus on the values and experiences shared by everybody and on the things that brought people together.

·       The starting point for the framework had been the wish for everyone to feel included and have a sense of belonging, and the shared desires of getting a job, access to good schools, clean streets, knowing their neighbours, and feeling safe.

·       The Place Standard approach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Lead Members for the Children’s Scrutiny Panel and the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel will update the Committee on the work being undertaken by these panels.

Contact:

Sheila Dykes – Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

Councillor Andrew Marchington, the Lead Member for the Children’s Scrutiny Panel updated the Committee on the work being undertaken by this Panel.

An update was submitted on the work of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel by Councillor Jackie Ramsey, the Lead Member.

The updates were noted and the Panels thanked for their work.

The current version of the Committee’s Work programme for 2022-23 will be submitted for Members’ consideration.

Contact:

Sheila Dykes – Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The current version of the Committee’s Work programme for 2022-23 was submitted for Members’ consideration and noted.