Issue - meetings

A plan for developing a new Strategy post-2007.

The Board were informed that the Council would be renewing it Community Strategy for ratification from 2007. A Report outlining the background, and the role of the HSP in developing and delivering the next Community Strategy was summarily discussed. It was established that a Council-led officer working group would be set-up and extended to partners to be engaged and that formal consultation was planned. There was some concerns raised over the ownership of the new Community Strategy and it was stated that its strength would be based on robust community engagement. The Board was informed that a workshop to engage on the agenda side of the Community Strategy would ensure ownership and that the officer working group would start the process of integration and partnership working. The governance of the Strategy would be shared and therefore all input would be welcomed in a planned and controlled environment resourced by the Council. Final ratification of the Community Strategy would lie with the Council. Partners largely agreed with this approached and pledged to engage in the process of developing the Strategy. The Board was informed that NRF monies could be used to finance certain development costs and that although some funds could also come from CoNEL, the starting point in the development of the new Strategy (brain-storming) needed wider input, in order to pave the way for continued shared vision and direction.

RESOVLED:                                                   

The HSP agreed to

(i)                 provide comments on the Report to the Council’s Policy and Partnerships Team, and

(ii)               support the overall direction and indicative project plan.