Agenda item

To receive a report on the Review of the Terms of Reference for Local Community Networks and to make comment on the recommended revised Terms of Reference.

The report also gives a brief overview of the current position of the LCNs.

The committee noted the report and made a number of suggestions and amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Local Community Networks. It was also agreed that a Task and Finish Group will be set up, led by councillor Hobhouse and 4 or 5 councillors from this committee.

Kate Hellard and Sara Skirton, along with Councillor Butt Philip were present at the meeting to bring forward this report to receive comments from the scrutiny committee before being presented to the next Executive committee.

It was noted that there had been a number of working groups set up by the various networks with Highways and the community being particularly successful. There were comments on the networks making strategic decisions and ways of working as a group that were being discussed.

The officers highlighted areas of the Terms of Reference that were proposed to be amended including election of the chair and the expansion and extension of some areas.

Committee members commented that some networks were not compatible and that smaller parishes/villages considered that they should be in another network area, some of the smaller parishes also felt that they were over-shadowed by the larger towns and parishes.

There was also comment on the cost of the LCNs and budget and it was confirmed that the LCNs received a one off budget of £350,000 pending the review and it was estimated that the budget would be £600,000 per annum to run, the staff budget was being used from the current staffing budget and a small top up from the Localities budget; other sources of grants being made available included Public Health and Highways to create resilient communities.

Some concern was raised if monies were being received and how would that change the networks from Boards to Committees as would then be making decisions?

In response to some of the concerns raised, the officers explained the following:

Link officers were being trained on the ICT and use of the technology to enable the meetings to continue to be hybrid meetings. There was also some discussion on venues for these meetings as some halls just weren`t able to host due to the internet strength.

It was proposed that there would be a link officer for 2 LCNs supporting their work.

Parishes can request to move LCNs but would need discussion and agreement of Chair of the LCNs.

The LCN have the chance to influence policy changes and service development including the Police, Health and local community organisations.

It was agreed that more work needed to be undertaken on encouraging other organisations and representatives to attend the meetings, this included Parish Council as in some areas there was a low attendance and it was hoped that the new link officers would assist in building links to the various organisations to encourage more interaction.

It was also suggested that core membership for some of the LCNs needed to be agreed/updated and this would need to be done ready for Annual General Meeting for each LCN.

It was mentioned that the LCN should be careful not to conflict with other groups in the County, an example being the Health Boards.  

Following the discussion, it was proposed that a Task and Finish Group be set up, led by Councillor Hobhouse and to consist of 4 or 5 Councillors from the Scrutiny committee to further review the work of the networks..

Resolved:

The committee noted the report and made a number of suggestions and amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Local Community Networks. It was also agreed that a Task and Finish Group will be set up, led by councillor Hobhouse and 4 or 5 councillors from this committee.