Agenda item

To consider a report by the Community Hub Manager (copy attached) which seeks the Committee’s observations and support for the Council’s Community Benefits Policy and recommendations in relation to its use

10.45am – 11.15am

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

The Committee:

Resolved: - having considered the policy –

(i)           to support its aims and objectives;

(ii)          to confirm that, as part of its consideration, it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2); and

(iii)        recommended that on page 4 of the policy, under the ‘Environmental Sustainability Initiatives’ section that the words “limiting pollution” be replaced by “limiting pollution where possible”.

Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets Julian Thompson-Hill, the Community Benefits Manager Karen Bellis and the Framework Manager Tania Silva were all in attendance for the item.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets presented the report (previously circulated) for the committee to consider and comment on the proposed Community Benefits (CB) policy and its alignment with the Council’s corporate plans and priorities.

June 2019 the DCC Programme Board for Young People and Housing approved the creation of the Community Benefits Hub (CB Hub), along with the inclusion of community benefits in all relevant contracts. The Hub wouldprovide support, and enable Services to include CBs in contracts at the earliest opportunity.

The commissioning cycle process is central to achieving best value and outcomes for DCC spend and it is to be expected that by applying a CB approach at an early stage this wouldgo toward increasing value for DCC spend. A CB Hub Officer was appointed in February 2020 and CB Hub manager appointed in March. DCC Community Benefits Policy wouldsupport the work and actions of the CB Hub in achieving intended outcomes and targets.

The Council spent £116m in 2017/18 so with a modest 1% CB return this could be generate £1.16m in new benefit per annum. This Policy would support the work of the CB Hub, and the council officers it supports, to access such funding and benefits to reinforce our corporate plan priorities that would help our communities to become more independent and resilient. The Council delivers its services directly through its own workforce, and through private and third sector organisations. The Council procures a wide range of goods, services and works from over 4,500 suppliers, service providers and contractors.

The CB Policy would provide a framework for internal and external stakeholders to be active in continued and developing engagement allowing us to monitor and evaluate, learn lessons, measure impact, and design fit for purpose CB planning the future. Policy would also support the CB Hub to track, monitor and report on community benefit outcomes across the council and become a means of assessing the strength, vitality and performance for the Corporate Plan 2017-2022. This in turn would use to formulate strategies for improvements and influence policy decisions. There could be opportunities to involve local communities in the delivery of community benefits.

The Hub was doing what the future generation act and ensuring that there was not only a financial gain from the contractors but also to have a long term impact.

During the debate the following points were raised:

·         The committee queried whether the officers for the CB would work closely with elected members, officers responded stating they would be having correspondence with local members as they had the best communication with local people and matters.

·         The committee queried whether wording within the policy could be changed from ‘limiting pollution’ to ‘preventing pollution’ officers ensured this could be done.

·         Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services, Monitoring Officer – endorsed the work which was carried out by both Officers Tania Silva and Karen Bellis.

Proposed by Councillor Graham Timms, seconded by Councillor Brian Jones.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

The Committee:

Resolved: - having considered the policy –

(i)           to support its aims and objectives;

(ii)          to confirm that, as part of its consideration, it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2); and

(iii)         recommended that on page 4 of the policy, under the ‘Environmental Sustainability Initiatives’ section that the words “limiting pollution” be replaced by “limiting pollution where possible”.