Issue - meetings

The Leader agreed and stated that it was vital for the Council to relinquish control in some areas to enable the people it represents to make decisions about their own communities. A big step forward in relation to this had recently been taken in Kidsgrove where plans to form a Partnership there were starting to take shape and it was agreed that Officers would look into helping this process move forward as a matter of urgency.

Resolved:      (a) That Cabinet notes the contents of the report including the action plan to be found at Appendix B.

(b) That Cabinet makes any further amendments or suggestions to the content of the Strategy, noting that this update was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee at its meeting on 24^th June 2013

(c) That the Cabinet requests further circulation of the Strategy to partners and communities as part of an engagement process on the meaning of the ‘co-operative’ concept for Newcastle and also requests further updates on the Strategy’s development at future meetings of the Cabinet.

A report was submitted to provide the Cabinet with an update on the development of the Co-operative Strategy 2013-2015. The Strategy was previously approved in draft by Cabinet in February 2013.

The Strategy provided the framework for the Borough Council to develop, in conjunction with others, a Co-operative Council in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The development of a co-operative council was one of the key priorities as set out in the current Council Plan.

The Strategy brought together existing areas of work and provided a common basis for future work programmes as well as providing a framework for future development of the co-operative concept.

The report set out details of a number of areas of work being progressed which were linked to the Co-operative Council concept, and also included an action plan setting out a number of actions related to the development of a Co-operative Council as identified by the LGA Peer Challenge in October 2012 and also via a number of other initiatives since the original draft Strategy was approved in February 2013.

The Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Policy and Partnerships highlighted the Boroughs successes in Britain in Bloom and stated that this was a good example of residents feeling valued through participation and that new ways had to be found to enhance existing partnerships. It was vital that the Council listen to the residents and work closely with the Town Centre Partnership whilst also acting as a civic leader.

The Leader agreed and stated that it was vital for the Council to relinquish control in some areas to enable the people it represents to make decisions about their own communities. A big step forward in relation to this had recently been taken in Kidsgrove where plans to form a Partnership there were starting to take shape and it was agreed that Officers would look into helping this process move forward as a matter of urgency.

Resolved:      (a) That Cabinet notes the contents of the report including the action plan to be found at Appendix B.

(b) That Cabinet makes any further amendments or suggestions to the content of the Strategy, noting that this update was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee at its meeting on 24^th June 2013

(c) That the Cabinet requests further circulation of the Strategy to partners and communities as part of an engagement process on the meaning of the ‘co-operative’ concept for Newcastle and also requests further updates on the Strategy’s development at future meetings of the Cabinet.