We are submitting this draft policy document for approval by the Cabinet to go out to the wider public and partners for consultation.  The intention is for the final policy document to be brought back to full Council for approval once informed by the community consultation.  It is currently intended that the consultation of this document will form a significant part of Communities Week (Community Conference).

That the draft Community Engagement and Empowerment Strategy be published and that the views of the community be sought on how the Council can best engage with and empower its communities.

The Council’s current Consultation, Engagement and Communication Strategy is out of date.  At the first Community Conference, a commitment was made that the Strategy would be reviewed, based on the feedback we received at the Conference.

As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to engage with our residents and communities, feedback needs to be sought as the Strategy develops.  The Strategy also forms part of the Council’s Policy Framework and therefore a period of consultation is also required by the Constitution.

Alternative options were set out in the submitted report.

This decision will come into force immediately in order to commence the formal consultation process.

The Council has made a strong commitment to improving partnership working and community based action within Torbay. At the Community Conference in September 2019 conversations began about how and what this might look like in Torbay.  The report from the Community Conference recommended that one of the elements required to translate the Council's determination to engage with communities more effectively into real change "on the ground" was a community engagement strategy that could become embedded in the work of all the Council's directorates and departments. It was felt that this (alongside other recommendations) would support the strong desire voiced by conference participants for a change in culture and mind-set within the Council.

The draft strategy sets out to our members, staff and community not only our plan of how the Council will address some of the key themes emerging from the conference but also clear statements about what our offers, commitments and actions will be. It also makes clear what we are asking the community to support this improvement and build more positive, trusted relationships.

The strategy outlines how the Council intends to meet its mission to be a Council that works in partnership with its residents, communities and partnerships. 

Councillor Carter proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded a motion that was unanimously agreed by the Cabinet as set out above.

None.