Apologies were received from Councillors Natasha Airey and Philip Love.

None received.

PROGRESS OF THE DELIVERING DIFFERENTLY TO NEIGHBOURHOODS PROGRAMME

Members noted the following key points of the report:

Ø  The report set out the progress to date and the next steps.

Ø  It asked Members to endorse the progress so far.

Ø  The Council was committed to transparency and localism.

Ø  13 of 14 parish councils delivered at least three services.

Ø  In January 2014, the council was successful in obtaining funding for the programme.

Ø  The project set out to deliver feasibility study working collaboratively with parish councils.

Ø  The programme was identifying ideas for the future and sought solutions to potential barriers.

Ø  The programme had received feedback via the parish forum; governance had been one issue that had come up so the team were working closely with parishes to come up with creative solutions.

Ø  The benefits of the programme reinforced manifesto commitments to work with parishes.

Ø  Progress to date included:

o   At the start of the programme, the team contacted Cornwall and Buckinghamshire councils and learned good practice and found there were areas the team could work on that they had not previously thought of.

o   As an authority, the council was taking a different approach; it was not about trying to save money or to cut services.

o   The team gained an insight into devolution.

o   Workshops had been held with parish councils.

o   A consultation had been carried out parish by parish.

o   Improved communication channels.

o   There was a desire to get better information on services carried out by the council.

o   The team were running bite sized sessions for parish councils to answer any queries.

o   DALC and BALC had both been involved with the programme.

o   Highways contracts going out to tender with a clause contractors must work with parish and town councils. It will be specifically explained to the contractor so they knew what was expected.

o   The framework for the tender process will be released so that other councils could learn from it.

o   There were some volunteers from the parish conference who offered to engage with the procurement process  which would enhance the process.

o   The team had been listening to parish councils and they were building into the process good standards of working practice.

o   The programme would continue to engage with parishes and meetings with individual parish councillors had been taking place and information had been provided to them on services. Parish councils had been providing feedback on that information on how they could devolve services.

o   The parish councils should start to see actions by spring 2016.

The Head of Neighbourhood & Streetscene Delivery confirmed that following feedback from parish councils, they wanted to see a designated person they could contact regarding services that had been devolved. He added he had been looking at what could be implemented quickly and then once in place, they could look at a more longer term solution.

The Chairman requested a list of services which had been successfully taken up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.