Agenda item

Will Cooper, Deputy Head of Strategy took the Committee through presentation slides and summarised the main part of the strategy, and commitments the administration had made in their manifesto. Mr Cooper introduced the elements of the strategy and took the Committee through the principles which shows that the strategy would be centered on a set policy that commits the Council to meaningful community participation.

Mr Cooper highlighted each of the principles included in the Strategy which are:

• We go where people are
• We learn through doing
• We listen
• We are transparent, accessible and open
• We value community power

Cllr Conway expressed her thanks to the Greater London Authority as she and Mr Cooper are part of a Civic Futures Programme which has helped inform learning on taking this piece of work forward and has been very well received.

Cllr Conway also informed Committee members that next week the Barnet Arts Education Partnership are launching their own culture and arts strategy where the leader of the Council will be speaking along with attendance from other members of the administration.

Cllr Grocock asked in relation to volunteers working with vulnerable people and how DBS checks are going to be managed. Mr Cooper advised that throughout the pandemic this was offered through Inclusion Barnet and agreed to check if this is something that can continue, with Barnet covering the cost of it. 

ACTION: Mr Cooper

Cllr Rose commented that the strategy is inclusive and exciting and reflects a Barnet that the administration wanted to create.

Cllr Rich asked how it is ensured this is kept at the forefront of our minds and if the progress on this should be annually reviewed. Liz Cowie, Assistant Director of Strategy & Communication commented that progress on the pathway projects will be reported once throughout the year and will be taken to other committees for their information. The team will also be producing an action plan to show intelligence and learning principles which will be refreshed annually. 

Cllr Rich also noted that the way we communicate this to residents is key to the future success of it.

Cllr L Gurung asked in relation to funding for the pathfinder projects, in particular the citizens assembly on climate change and diversity. Ms Cowie informed that the Environment Committee have funded the citizens assembly on this topic and Cllr Conway added that environmental sustainability and community engagement run through all of the administrations priorities at Committees.

Cllr Radford echoed the positive thoughts on the strategy and asked about communicating the four parts of the wheel in an easier format for members on what should be amplified to residents and what the Council’s overall message is. Ms Cowie noted that there is a strategy bulletin and information can be highlighted within this for members and there is also a communities together network that the team can make sure all members receive. Cllr Radford offered his assistance in the communication of this going forward.

Cllr Sargeant noted the importance of the report and is pleased to see the pathfinder projects taking shape and going forward looks forward to seeing what projects will be carried out internally.

Cllr Gordon asked about the citizens assembly and what is being done to reach out to more volunteers. Mr Cooper informed that there will be expert groups who coordinate a cross section of people and common practice would be to pay them for their time and assistance.

Cllr D Cohen asked how there will be 40 people randomly sampled to take part in the citizens assembly. Mr Cooper informed that ‘Sortition’, an external company have been commissioned to carry out this piece of work and more detail on this would be provided to the Committee if required.

Cllr Rich advised that it should be made clear the selection is random, but not necessarily representative.

Cllr Conway noted that there is also a specific focus on children and young people so that we hear, as we do in the Council meetings, from the generation who are affected by this going forward.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1. Approved the Community Participation Strategy.

2. Agreed that the Council adopt the principles agreed in the Strategy.