Issue - items at meetings - Development of Local Action Teams

Joint report of Executive Director of Finance and Resources and the Acting Director of Public Health (copy attached)

24.1    The Committee considered a joint report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources and the Acting Director of Public Health which provided an update in respect of Local Action Team (LAT) project work undertaken to date and the proposed way forward. Ultimately, a further period of development was recommended in order to build upon the work that had taken place so far and to test a new working model (outlined in section 3.11 of the report), in order to seek to maximise the impact of Local Action Teams in the city.

24.2    The Environment Improvement Officer, Simon Bannister, explained that changing arrangements for the delivery of neighbourhood working in the city, as well as the formation of the Neighbourhood, Communities and Housing Directorate and changes in priorities for Sussex Police had provided an opportunity to reconsider how the Council and partners interacted with and supported the city’s network of Local Action Teams (LAT’s) and how the impact of LATs fitted with changing Council and Police priorities. As a community network, LATs offered the potential to assist in improved, more collaborative and more cost effective delivery of some neighbourhood services. To date that potential had not been sufficiently explored and the proposal as outlined in section 3.11 of the report would enable that to happen. The Head of Community Safety, Peter Castleton and the Environmental Improvement Officer, Simon Bannister, gave a presentation including reference to large scale coloured plans delineating the location of existing LAT’s across the city.

24.3    James Collis who was in attendance representing Sussex Police stated that largely, the Police supported the approach being advocated. With the changes that would inevitably occur to the manner in which policing, particularly neighbourhood policing would be delivered in future it was important that dialogue took place to ensure that information was shared and that LATs were engaged with as part of a broader process going forward. There was a need to engage creatively with neighbourhoods across the city to foster community well-being, this went beyond crime and community safety.

24.4    Councillor Wealls referred to the LAT in his own area which appeared to be flagging, he was aware that Councillor Moonan had put a lot of hard work to support and foster this. If instances occurred where a LAT did not represent its community he was concerned whether mechanisms existed to remove it.

24.5    Councillor Littman made the same point, whilst some LAT’s worked very well and were inclusive and collaborative he was aware of instances where they were weak, were dysfunctional or had morphed into a body which was no longer representative to the point where they could actually be divisive or work contrary to the interests of that community. He was anxious that robust arrangements were available if that became so.

24.6    The Chair, Councillor Daniel, stated that she was aware that such situations required sensitive handling bearing in mind that there was no “one size fits all” approach, also that LAT’s were independent and did not fall within the Council’s control. It was important however to ensure that in exceptional cases a LAT could be “derecognised”. Councillor Daniel considered that paragraph 3.10 of the report covered this point and should be taken up going forward. Where a LAT had ceased to be active or was not attracting participation in its neighbourhood it was important to ensure that there was a willingness to listen and engage when other groups came forward and to potentially recognise the new, more functioning group as that areas LAT.

24.7    Joanna Martindale, referred to the desire by the community and voluntary sector to engage proactively and to provide support and engage in dialogue, this approach helped to ensure good governance and to minimise unnecessary duplication. The Environmental Improvement Officer, Communities, stated that work with LAT’s would be on-going over the next twelve months. The LAT Chair’s meeting held the previous week had been well attended and had generated positive discussions.

24.8    Councillor Moonan referred to the staged approach and to the three different typographies identified in the report considering that this provided a helpful and proportionate framework for further work.

24.9    Councillor Hill concurred considering that approach provided a good flexible model citing the Coldean LAT which was small and lower tier but was well connected within that community and was an example of good practice. The Hollingdean LAT was larger yet struggled. It was important for groups to be aware of what the Council could and could not do and how groups and communities could enable themselves.

24.10  Councillor Gibson stated that the report and discussions arising from its consideration had been reassuring for him and had addressed some of his concerns to ensure that LAT’s were empowered, reflected their individual communities and worked collaboratively with other organisations in their locality.

24.11  RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee agrees the proposed 12 month targeted programme of LAT development to establish a new working model for LATs in the city as outlined in sections 3.11 and 3.12 of the  report;

(2) That the Committee notes the findings of the LAT review phase 1 and 2 as described in section 3 of the report; and

(3) That committee instructs officers to present the results of the 12 month development programme including recommendations on future working arrangements between LATs and the council and other public sector organisations to a future meeting of this Committee;