Issue - meetings

(To receive a report from the Executive Director for Environment and Economy which seeks approval of a draft Engagement Strategy, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, to be recommended for approval at Full Council and adoption as part of the Council's Policy Framework)

(1)  That the draft Engagement Strategy, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be recommended for approval by the County Council and adopted as part of the Council's Policy Framework.

(2)  That support be given to an amendment to the Community Engagement Policy to reflect the Strategy that all teams carrying out engagement activity and consultation must approach the Community Engagement Team.

(3)  That the work of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee in reviewing the activity of the Community Engagement Team be noted and supported. 

Consideration was given to a report from Richard Wills (Executive Director for Environment and Economy), which presented a Draft Engagement Strategy 2018 – 2023 which outlined plans on how Lincolnshire County Council would engage over the next five years.  

The Executive Councillor for NHS Liaison and Community Engagement presented the report to the Executive and in doing so invited the Chief Community Engagement Officer to provide an overview of the work of the Community Engagement Team. 

As part of the overview it was confirmed that the local county councillor/s would be notified of any community engagement events taking place within their electoral division.  Further to this, it was suggested that the Community Engagement Team should promote the work of its Team with County Councillors so that they gained an understanding of the support that was on offer. 

The Chief Community Engagement Officer in presenting the Draft Engagement Strategy 2018 – 2023 advised that the draft strategy had been co-produced following a workshop with sixteen councillors and based on their feedback.  The draft strategy included aims, objectives, commitments and an action plan to ensure it provided context and influenced real change. 

It was highlighted that the report sought support from the Executive to amend the Community Engagement Policy to reflect the Strategy so that all teams carrying out engagement activity and consultation must approach the Community Engagement Team for guidance and support.  Further to this, it was confirmed that a member of the Community Engagement Team could be made available for high profile community engagement events to offer support, if required.

In response to a question, the Executive was advised that there was a single point of contact within the Community Engagement Team for parish and town councils, including representatives of Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board advised that the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee had considered a report concerning the Draft Engagement Strategy 2018-2023 at its meeting on 13 March 2018.  The Committee agreed to support the recommendation to the Executive.

The Executive supported the work of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee in committing to reviewing the activity of the Community Engagement Team at a future meeting. 

RESOLVED

(1)  That the draft Engagement Strategy, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be recommended for approval by the County Council and adopted as part of the Council's Policy Framework.

(2)  That support be given to an amendment to the Community Engagement Policy to reflect the Strategy that all teams carrying out engagement activity and consultation must approach the Community Engagement Team.

(3)  That the work of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee in reviewing the activity of the Community Engagement Team be noted and supported.