Issue - meetings

To consider a draft framework to guide and govern the Council’s future partnership relationship with the third sector in Cheshire East.

Report attached.

         Consideration was given to a report, which presented a draft Framework to guide and govern the Council’s future partnership relationship with the third sector in Cheshire East.

It was noted that, whilst this matter was not within the remit of the People Advisory Panel, people would be affected by the decisions made in respect of this.  Therefore, the Chairman had requested that the report be included on the agenda, for comment.

          In considering the report Members of the Panel raised the following issues:

          (i)      Reference was made to the table within the report headed “Resources - What do Councils in Cheshire East currently spend in the Third Sector?” and concern was expressed that some District/Borough figures were not included.  It was considered that the report required further refinement to bring together the various issues in respect of partnership working and in particular how Cheshire East Council would work with the LSPs.  It was also considered that the document should refer to working with statutory groups, in addition to voluntary bodies.  There should also be consistency across the titles of the various documents.

          (ii)     It was noted that, in addition to financial investment, the existing Councils provided help “in kind” by the provision of help and advice from professional officers and it was considered that reference should be made to this within the document.

          (iii)    Reference was made to a recent open night event for carers in Crewe, where compliance with existing Compact commitments had been welcomed.  It was noted that Compact funding needed to be guaranteed for voluntary organisations for three years and it was considered that reference to this should be included within the document.

          The Portfolio Holder undertook to raise these issuesthrough the Places Directorate.