Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor Roy Cartlidge declared a personal interest as Mayor of Crewe.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th August 2011.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th August 2011 be approved as a correct record.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present.

The Officers will report at the meeting.

A revised project plan and timetable was circulated at the meeting.

The timetable had been put back to allow for additional public engagement to be arranged in October and November 2011.

RESOLVED

That the revised project plan and timetable be noted and approved.

To consider the outcome of the two public meetings to be held on 15^th and 16^th September.

It was reported that the first public consultation meeting, held in the evening on Thursday, 15^th September, had been poorly attended, with only two people present. The second meeting, held in the afternoon on Friday, 16^th September had attracted 16 people and a wide range of questions had been asked. A record of both meetings would be included in the feedback on the Stage 1 consultation.

Members considered whether additional public meetings should be held or whether an alternative approach was needed.

Dawn Clark informed Members that a series of community events in Crewe would take place between 24^th October and 6^th November and could be used as a means of raising awareness and seeking further feedback on the community governance review.

Members asked if a road show could also be arranged in Crewe Town Centre on a Friday and Saturday. The Officers confirmed that a static road show could be arranged, manned by Officers trained in public engagement.

RESOLVED

That no further public consultation meetings be held but the alternative proposal of using the planned community events in Crewe as a means of publicising the community governance review, and the holding of a road show in Crewe Town Centre on a Friday and Saturday, be pursued.

To consider a revised draft public information leaflet with a view to commencing consultations with stakeholders on 30^th September 2011.

A revised leaflet will be circulated at the meeting.

The Policy Officer, with assistance from the Communications Team, had produced a revised draft information leaflet which had taken on board comments on a previous version.

Members discussed whether the leaflet needed to go to all households or whether it should instead be circulated to representative community groups.

Members felt that the leaflet in its current format would be too lengthy for many people and that a short, punchy single-sided leaflet would be more likely to engage people’s attention. This could then be supplemented with a more detailed document containing further background information for those who wished to know more.

RESOLVED

That the Officers develop a brief, punchy information leaflet on a single sheet of paper, and a back-up document containing more detailed background information, and circulate both to Members of the Sub-Committee for comments.

To consider a paper on the existing community governance arrangements in Crewe.

Members received a paper on the existing community governance arrangements in Crewe. The current arrangements included the Crewe Local Area Partnership, which brought together a wide range of people from the statutory, private, voluntary, faith and community sectors across Crewe with a view to delivering improved outcomes for local people, ensuring that people influenced decision-making and actively engaging and empowering communities. There were also a wide range of voluntary and community groups within the Crewe area.

RESOLVED

That the paper be noted.