Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to run an area based working model as a pilot for a minimum of 6 months, introducing enhanced neighbourhood management support arrangements designed to develop wider partnership working and more integrated service delivery.

RESOLVED: That the implementation of the area working pilot, comprising the wards identified at paragraph 19 of the report be approved from September 2010 for a minimum of 12 months and that an evaluation report be brought back to the Executive in September 2011 in order for Members to determine whether to continue the model and widen the scheme to the rest of the City.

REASON:      To provide the scope for delivering improved services at a neighbourhood level by introducing enhanced neighbourhood support arrangements and working closely with a wider range of partners and the voluntary sector.

Members considered a report which sought approval to run as a pilot scheme an area-based working model introducing enhanced neighbourhood management support arrangements, designed to develop wider partnership working and more integrated service delivery.

At their meeting on 7 July 2009, the Executive had agreed to support the principle of area-based working and to receive a further detailed report in due course.  Since then, the organisational review had merged the Council’s Neighbourhood Services directorate with Leisure, Culture & Housing Services.  It was therefore proposed that a new model of area working be adopted, based around an enhanced strategic co-ordination role at local level, led by a dedicated neighbourhood management team.  Details were set out in paragraphs 7 to 10 of the report, with process examples in Annex 1.

It was proposed to implement the area working model as a pilot for a minimum of six months, from September 2010, in the Acomb, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, Holgate, Micklegate, Rural West and Westfield wards.  Officers from the Neighbourhood Management Unit would hold a series of briefing sessions for ward members in the pilot area prior to the launch, to ensure a full consultation on and understanding of the operation of the model.  Further evaluation would take place throughout the trial period.  Three options were available for Members’ consideration:

Option A – to approve an area based pilot model to run for 6 months in the wards identified, as recommended.

Option B – as above, but in a different cluster of wards.

Option C – not to approve the operation of an area based pilot.

Having noted the comments of the Labour Group Spokespersons on this item, it was

RESOLVED: That the implementation of the area working pilot, comprising the wards identified at paragraph 19 of the report be approved from September 2010 for a minimum of 12 months¹ and that an evaluation report be brought back to the Executive in September 2011 ² in order for Members to determine whether to continue the model and widen the scheme to the rest of the City.

REASON:      To provide the scope for delivering improved services at a neighbourhood level by introducing enhanced neighbourhood support arrangements and working closely with a wider range of partners and the voluntary sector.