Item 6 - Proposed Community Planning Pilot Approach 24 - 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 November 2024
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 21 November 2024 and its agenda
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Report by Chief Officer Citizen, Culture and Facilities CPWD Management Board: 21 November 2024 ______________________________________________________________ Subject: Proposed Community Planning Pilot 1. Purpose 1.1 This report details and updates on the decisions taken by Community Planning West Dunbartonshire (CPWD) Management Board members on 22 February 2024 with regards to adopting a community-based pilot project as part of the themed approach for work in 2024/25. 2. Recommendations 2.1 CPWD Management Board is asked to: • Note and support the recommended Locality and community priority to be addressed as part of the pilot, set out in 4.2. • Note and support the defined location for the pilot in 4.3. • Partners are asked to commit to supporting the pilot project as set out in 4.4. 3. Background 3.1 The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires local authorities, partners and local communities to work together through community planning to design and deliver better services that make a real difference to people's lives. 3.2 Communities across West Dunbartonshire are facing significant challenges from the cost-of-living crisis, continued recovery from Covid 19, reducing public finances and changing demographics. By working in partnership and adopting a preventative approach, the partnership can help build resilient communities able to take an active role in making their neighbourhoods a better place. 3.3 Community Planning Partnerships have a particular emphasis on reducing inequality. This can be achieved by understanding local need and working in partnership to address it and direct resources to where it’s most needed. ITEM 6
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Community participation is integral to community planning, and it is vital communities are involved. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Following a presentation to the CPWD Management Board on 22 February 2024 agreement was made to progress with a themed approach for the partnership in 2024/25. Part of this themed approach was the development a pilot project designed to collaborate with established community organisations to better understand, and address issues faced by local people. All members agreed to this approach. 4.2 It is proposed that the location for the pilot approach will be within one of the localities that has concluded a Locality Plan. These are Leven, Dumbarton and Clydebank Waterfront. Based on the priorities identified by the communities it is proposed to focus on the Leven Locality for the pilot. The communities in this area identified a need to ‘improve access to local services’ for local people. This provides the pilot project a clear priority to address. 4.3 Within the Leven Locality and based on SIMD data it is recommended that the area suffering from the greatest levels of deprivation are to be found in Alexandria. Based on this information and the points below it is recommended that the project scope is within the Alexandria Community Council boundary (see Appendix One: Alexandria Community Council Boundary). This boundary extends into the Leven and Lomond Wards. The following also supports the proposals to focus the pilot within Alexandria: • The number of active local organisations that could support the project include, Central Alexandria Tenants and Residents Association (CATRA), Alexandria Community Council and the Vale of Leven Trust. • The number of local venues available for the project that include, Alexandria Library, VOL Trust office, Alexandria Community Centre and the Vale Health Centre. • The potential to use existing health / SIMD data to support the project outcomes. 4.4 In order to undertake the pilot a steering group of community planning partners will be formed. This group will undertake early engagement with established community organisations and together define outcomes and measures of success based on the priority to, ‘improve access to local services’. All partners are asked to commit to supporting this pilot project. 4.5 This work will be led by the Communities Manager / Communities Team and progress will be reported back regularly to the CPWD Management Board. The initial meeting of the steering group will be planned during December with engagement with the local community beginning in early 2025. Further information on the duration of the pilot project will be presented to a future CPWD management board meeting.
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5. People Implications 5.1 This approach will require resourcing. All partners are expected to contribute to the success of the approach through their actions and input. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no financial implications. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Failure to respond to challenges would risk delivery against policy priorities. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 An EIA scoping exercise will be undertaken as part of the pilot project. 9. Consultation 9.1 This report provides a summary of the agreed approach being taken by CPWD in response to the feedback from communities and community groups and in response to the SIMD data highlighting the inequalities faced by communities. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 Progressing work as outlined in this report ensures CPWD can deliver on the outcomes set in the Local Outcome Improvement Plan. Amanda Graham Chief Officer Citizen, Culture and Facilities 25 October 2024 ______________________________________________________________ Person to Contact: Elaine Troup, Communities Manager, Elaine.troup@west- dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix One: Alexandria Community Council Boundary Background Papers: Wards Affected: Leven and Lomond Wards
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Appendix One: Alexandria Community Council Boundary