Issue - meetings

At the Annual Assembly, the issue of partnership working was discussed.  Standards for England is developing a series of tools which can be used locally to assess and improve local government partnership arrangements. 

It has developed a protocol in partnership with Manchester City Council for use by local authorities to encourage high standards of behaviour of those that work in partnerships.

The report of the Monitoring Officer, outlining the proposals, is attached.  It is suggested that a Member and Officer working group be established, to include representation from the Partnership Team. The group would use the draft protocol as a framework for development of a local protocol for use across Cheshire East, reporting back to the Committee in due course.

At the Annual Assembly, the issue of partnership working had been discussed.  Standards for England was developing a series of tools which could be used locally to assess and improve local government partnership arrangements.

It had developed a protocol in partnership with Manchester City Council for use by local authorities to encourage high standards of behaviour of those that work in partnerships.

The Committee considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which outlined proposals.  It was suggested that a Member and Officer working group be established, to include representation from the Partnership Team.  The group would use the draft protocol as a framework for development of a local protocol for use across Cheshire East, reporting back to the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED:

That

(a)       a Working Group of Members and Officer, including the Monitoring Officer and appropriate Officers from the Partnership Team, be established to develop a Partnerships Protocol for use within Cheshire East;

(b)               Councillors M A Hollins and L Smetham, together with Mr R Pomlett be appointed to the Working Group as the Member representation; and

(c)               arrangements be made for a meeting of the Working Group to be held in January 2010 with a view to submitting a report to the Committee’s March meeting.