Decision details

Neighbourhood Working

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

The Chief Executive reported upon the development of a neighbourhood working approach across constituencies in Wirral, in order for services and community engagement to be more effectively and efficiently configured, targeted and delivered.

 

The Chair commented that the proposed neighbourhood working approach would help to develop a closer relationship between the Council and residents, promote improved partnership working across the public sector and ensure future service delivery reflected an improved understanding of resident views through consultation and participation. The proposal also potentially offered a more cost-effective approach to the future delivery of services by joining front line delivery and tackling issues at their source. It was about changing ways of working for all public, private, social sector providers to deliver improvements for neighbourhoods. He commented that it would not be possible to adopt a new model of working utilising the existing 11 Area Forum boundaries because of the costs of administration and the Area Forum footprints being too small for services to be more effectively co-ordinated.

 

It was proposed that the neighbourhood working structure would be based upon Wirral’s four Parliamentary Constituency boundaries, with staff and services being located within Constituencies and a Constituency Committee established for each area. Each Constituency would have a Public Service Board that would bring together bodies including the Council, Police, Fire and Health, to co-ordinate the strategic delivery of a Constituency Plan that would outline priorities for each area.

 

The Chair indicated that he had received support for the proposals from the Council’s partners and that feedback from a recent visioning event had been very positive. The Cabinet Member for Improvement and Governance commented that the proposal had the potential to be a very effective way of engaging with local communities. She hoped that all members would engage with the process and commented that more detailed work would be undertaken by the Democracy Working Party.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the proposals to establish a new neighbourhood working approach across constituencies in Wirral, be endorsed and the report be referred to the Council for consideration and agreement.

 

(2)  That a special meeting of the Democracy Working Group be held, on 31 January 2013, to discuss the report and make comment prior to the referral of the recommendation to Council on Monday 11 February 2013.

Report author: Chief Executive

Publication date: 29/01/2013

Date of decision: 24/01/2013

Decided at meeting: 24/01/2013 - Cabinet

Effective from: 06/02/2013

Accompanying Documents: