Working with Town and Parish Councils

1. Working with Town and Parish Councils Area Committee – South East 12 March 2014 Helen Griffiths Senior Locality Development Officer

2. Format • Reminder of the proposals • Increasing capacity • Joint Meetings • Review of the Charter • Next steps / on-going work

3. Reminder of the proposals Key messages • Commitment to strengthening the relationships between NCC and T&PCs • Commitment of senior officers to lead the process • Benefits of partnership working to develop a joint vision and joint programme • Building on existing relationships

4. Reminder of the proposals Cont. Building on existing relationships • New Parish Liaison Working Group • Strengthening communication and engagement: • New regular programme of meetings • Two additional meetings: • Annual conference – May/ June • Budget – autumn • Asset transfer – feedback on outstanding issues

5. Increasing capacity

6. Increasing capacity Cont. Role of Locality Officers • Liaison role • First point of contact between NCC and T&PCs • Actioningand monitoring of identified issues

7. Joint meetings • Vital part of developing relationship • Not a political discussion • Demonstrate leadership and commitment at a senior officer level • Opportunities for joint planning • Improvement of local services • Reviewing and improving performance • Not about replacing the existing ways we communicate with T&PCs

8. Joint meetings Cont. Information gathering • Planning (DM, policy, neighbourhood plans) • Neighbourhood Environmental Action Teams • Street lighting • Community spaces • Countryside and rights of way • Transport • Asset transfer • Community chest applications • Area committee feedback

9. Joint meetings Cont. Lead Officers for South East Area

10. Joint meetings Cont. Frequency of meetings As a guide: • Main Towns - quarterly • Service Centres – 6 monthly • Clusters – 6 monthly • Initial meeting - discuss and agree purpose • Second meeting – start of meeting schedule • Clusters - further on-going work

11. Joint meetings Cont. Feedback from first meetings • 21 out of 23 meetings occurred • Support for meetings • Standard discussion points • Attendance • Mixed issues discussed • Additional points agreed in advance

12. Review of the Charter • Current Charter • Task and Finish Group • Develop concise framework document – to set out how NCC and T&PCs will work effectively together • Consultation on revised Charter – 27 February to 9 April 2014 • Proposed to adopt May 2014 • Proposed launch June 2014 (Annual Conference)

13. Next steps/ on-going work • Reinforce commitment to working with T&PCs • Review success of first round of meetings • Role of T&PC Clerks • Understanding wider relationships/ influences • Database of key issues and setting up process for capturing issues • Awareness raising – Members and Officers • Finalise proposals for clusters • Consultation on the proposed Revised Charter • Reviewing feedback on asset transfer

14. Key Contacts Kevin Bartlett Locality Development Officer Kevin.Bartlett01@northumberland.gov.uk 01670 623416 Iain Hedley Locality Development Officer Iain.Hedley@northumberland.gov.uk 01670 620379 Debbie Longlands Locality Development Officer Debbie.Longlands@northumberland.gov.uk 01670 620378 Richard Powell Locality Development Officer Richard.Powell@northumberland.gov.uk 01670 623418