Issue - meetings

To note the expression of interest.

Consideration was given to a report, which provided a brief overview of the Community Budgeting expression of interest submitted to Government on 15 April.

Brandon Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in DCLG, had written to all Local Authorities inviting them to put forward partnership Expressions of Interest to join the newly formed Public Services Transformation Network. The deadline for EOIs was 15 April. 

The network was announced in the Budget and aimed to spread the learning from the existing four Whole-Place Community Budget pilots and worked directly with local areas to co-design practical public service reforms. If an area was successful in its EOI it would be invited to join the network and thereby have access to the representatives from Whitehall and from 4 pilot areas, who could provide advice and learning on public service reform.  It was understood that DCLG were hoping for 4-6 new areas to join the network in the current year and a further 4-6 in 2014/15.

The Government would provide £1.5 million of funding for the new network, and those areas who joined the network would be asked to make a contribution to match the Government’s funding.  How this aspect of the network would operate was not entirely clear at this stage.

In light of the good progress in setting up a review of Learning Disability in Cheshire East, it was considered that this would be a good focus for a community budgeting approach.  A brief proposal had, therefore, being prepared and submitted to Government on 15 April. The Expression of Interest document was attached to the report.

RESOLVED

That the expression of interest be noted.