Archived decisions

Appendix Nine

Policy Unit Briefing - Strong and Prosperous Communities

The Local Government White Paper

Strong and Prosperous Communities: Key Areas of Interest for Policy and Review Committees

The recent White Paper `Strong and Prosperous Communities' has a number of implications for the way in which the County |Council is organised and supports local people. It includes a range of proposals for strengthening the overview and scrutiny function that Policy and Review Committees will need to consider (a summary of the key points is attached at Annexe 1).

In order to provide for maximum opportunity for members to inform and influence HCC's response to these proposals this paper summarises the broad areas covered in the White Paper and links these to the areas covered by each P&R Committee; these inevitably cross more that one area of interest. This will provide an opportunity to ensure that, where members feel it is appropriate, they are able to feed into the response agreed by the County Council.

There are links to the areas for scrutiny already identified through the briefing process and previously considered by members (a summary of the themes identified through this process is attached at Appendix 2).

Strong and Prosperous Communities': Broad Themes by PRC

Policy and Resources

Co-ordinating Scrutiny

· Responding the consultation on arrangements for overview and scrutiny

· Arrangements for responding to Community Calls for Action and links with

other partners

Cross cutting themes

· Changes to the LAA and performance framework Chapter 6)

· The Third Sector (Annexe G) and partnership working (Chapters 1,2 & 5)

· Community engagement and LA accountability (Chapter 2)

· Community management & ownership of assets (Chapters 2 & 7)

· The role of local government (Chapter 3)

· Improving services (Chapter 7)

Children & Young People

· Vulnerable People (Annexe C)

· Children Young people & Families (Annexe D)

Safe & Healthy People

· Community Safety (Annexe A)

· Health & Well being (Annexe B)

· Vulnerable People (Annexe C)

Culture & Communities

· Vulnerable People (Annexe C)

· Economic development, Housing and Planning (Annexe E & Chapter 4)

· Sustainable communities (Chapter 5)

· Community engagement and consultation (Chapter 5)

· Community Cohesion (Chapter 8)

Environment and Transportation

· Climate Change (Annexe F) and environment (chapter 4)

· Housing and regeneration (Chapter 5)

Health

· Health & Well Being (Annexe B)

· Vulnerable People (Annexe C)

· Role of the Local Improvement Networks (Annexe B)

· Community engagement and consultation ( Chapters 1 & 2)

Item 5 d

Strong and Prosperous Communities: Issues for Scrutiny

Strengthening Overview and Scrutiny

· OSCs are an essential part of the democratic process for holding decision makers to account

· Role in reconciling community opinion/stimulating debate as well as reviewing services and engaging with service stakeholders

· Need to engage Cllrs as representatives in their areas to champion the interests of local people

· Constructive challenge based on improvements for people & communities

· Powers extended to look at actions of public service providers and public bodies and require information within 20 working days and respond to recommendations

· Council's response to OSC recommendations to be provided in two months

· Emphasis placed on OSCs within communities/neighbourhoods ( we need to link with HATs and districts here)

· At the level of full council the OSCs will be more strategic, informing policy development and allowing local councillors to influence decisions

· We will need to take account of what the districts are doing

· There will be specific responsibilities with regard to community cohesion- this will be developed in the consultation on the guidance for OSCs. There is some reference to a single OSC for LAs- it is not clear if this means HOSC or if the functions are to merge

· There is a possibility that OSCs will be able to recommend an independent inspection

· Consultations need to be co-ordinated

· The reformed best value duty on LAs to secure the participation of citizens will complement existing plans to strengthen section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act by requiring health bodies to respond to patients and the public

· OSCs will be required to respond to/investigate Community Calls for Action

Generic/ Cross Cutting Themes

· Linking LAA & performance framework (including publication of results)

· Citizen satisfaction and perception

· Communications and information

· Asset sharing/joint working/ pooled systems

· Changing role of local government

· Commissioning/provision issues?

· Partnerships

· Universal services vs. local services?

· Hard to reach groups and equalities

· Choice supported by devolved budgets and flexible procurement

· Community engagement and involvement- duty to inform, consult, involve and devolve

· Needs assessment/ priority setting

· Petitions & Community Calls for Action will need a framework for managing

Health

· Enhance local leadership on health & well being

· Local Involvement Networks are route for communities to engage with health and social care

· LA lead member for adult services should be able to influence commissioning decisions and drive action to reduce health inequalities

· Services should be seamless with joined up reporting /performance management arrangements for public health and social care

· LAs will be under a statutory duty to set up LINks - which can refer issues to OSCs

· There will be a new statutory partnership for health and well being under the LSP- relevant elected members should have a key role

· Guidance on commissioning health and well being will be published this winter to complement encouragement to LAs to move towards a commissioning role

Annexe Two