Issue - meetings

(i)                  That the report and notes the activities delivered in 2025 as part of the initial year of the Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) initiative, be received.

(ii)                 That the Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) Strategy 2025 – 2028 be formally adopted now that consultation has concluded

(iii)               That the additional resource requirements of increasing community engagement activity and target setting and monitoring as set out in the motion which was approved at Full Council on 19^th November 2025, be considered.

(iv)               That this report be referred to the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee for consideration

The Leader introduced a report for Cabinet to review and evaluate activities that had been delivered in the initial year of the Civic Pride (Empowering our Communities) initiative and to look ahead to the next phase of delivery.

Events were held in each ward around the Borough to start the initiative and this years’ events were outlined on page 149 of the agenda.

The Civic Prize Fund that had been received by the Council was now in its last phase of giving funding to community groups.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment advised that Civic Pride in 2025 bad been a great success with Councillors, officers of the Council, partners, community groups, businesses and residents all getting involved. The initiative was committed to creating a cleaner, safer and more welcoming Borough.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing stated that Civic Pride events had been held across the Borough and had been supported by key partners such as the police, Aspire and  Staffordshire County Council, plus local groups and schools.  There had been a wide range of activities such as bulb planting and litter picking.   Councillor Heesom stated that she had been pleasantly surprised by the number of young people who had attended the event in Silverdale where the police were security marking bicycles.  Thanks were given to everyone involved  in what had been a really good first year.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth stated that people had been asking what ‘Civic Pride’ meant him and his answer had been ‘being proud of where he lived’.  Councillor Sweeney stated that his reason for being elected was to make his ward, Clayton  the best possible place it could be.

The Leader stated that communities across the Borough were unique but all had a strong sense of belonging.  Civic Pride was more than just clean streets and tidy gardens – it was about creating a shared commitment to the local environment, celebrating the heritage in towns and villages and working with everyone.

The Leader stated that at the last Full Council meeting it had been discussed how to get more people involved, getting the message out to everyone to help by joining community clean up days; volunteering for planting projects; reporting issues to the relevant authority or weeding the gutters outside of their properties.

Resolved:    (i)       That the report and notes the activities delivered in 2025

as part of the initial year of the Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) initiative, be received.

(ii)             That the Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) Strategy 2025 – 2028 be formally adopted now that consultation has concluded

(iii)           That the additional resource requirements of increasing community engagement activity and target setting and monitoring as set out in the motion which was approved at Full Council on 19^th November 2025, be considered.

(iv)            That this report be referred to the Health, Wellbeing and

Environment Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

Watch the debate here