Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 4 - Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH

Contact: Dereck Francis  01902 555835 or Email: dereck.francis@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Cllr Milkinder Jaspal.

2.

Declarations of interests

Minutes:

No declarations of interests were made.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting (21 October 2016) pdf icon PDF 68 KB

[For approval]

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

4.

Matters arising

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

5.

Community Governance Review - draft consultation document pdf icon PDF 77 KB

[To review and comment on the draft consultation document for the Community Governance Review]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to the discussion at the last meeting  Martyn Sargeant, Head of Democratic Services  presented a draft of the document that would form the basis of consultation with residents and other interested parties, which would constitute the critical work at the heart of the community governance review.

 

Cllr Andrew Johnson commented that the draft consultation document was balanced and when the design was completed by the Council’s Communications team it would read well.  He sought the views of the Group on the text of the draft.

 

Cllr Rita Potter asked whether the two community meetings would be sufficient for the engagement within Tettenhall.  The Head of Democratic Services reported that this question had been considered.  It was suggested that the Council engage with existing groups within the area but that it might lead to more meetings.  The position would be kept under review.

 

Cllr Andrew Johnson suggested that there might be one public meeting then meetings with individual groups.  If there were geographical issues in the area more consultation meetings could be held. 

 

Cllr Wendy Thompson reported that the two critical issues for the Tettenhall community governance review would be the services to be taken up and the annual precept.  Regarding the consultation questions, Cllr Thompson stated that the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Forum was determined in its view and would be taking on a leadership role during the review.  She added that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Neighbourhood Forum were grateful for the help and cooperation they had received from Council employees.

 

Resolved:

  1. That the draft consultation document for the Community Governance Review be approved.

 

  1. That authority be delegated to the Chair of the Special Advisory Group in consultation with Cllr Wendy Thompson to sign-off the final document for circulation to residents and other relevant parties.

 

6.

Community Governance Consultation Approach

[To review and comment on the detailed overview of the consultation process for the two elements of the community governance review][Report to be tabled]

Minutes:

Martyn Sargeant, Head of Democratic Services tabled a document on an overview of the consultation arrangements for the Tettenhall community governance review and the wider review for the whole of the city.

 

Cllr Andrew Johnson asked the Group whether it felt that the proposed two community meetings was sufficient for the Tettenhall community governance consultation.

 

Cllr Wendy Thompson reported that the flexibility the Head of Democratic Services had mentioned was useful but initially two meetings for liaison with the Neighbourhood Forum would be beneficial.  In relation to the city wide community governance consultation, Cllr Thompson commented that it was right that the emphasis of this consultation was about the community and that the consultation questions reflected this.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reported that he would be happy to attend a Community Council event that is organised.

 

Cllr Roger Lawrence made the point that at this stage the Council was embarking on a consolation exercise, the outcome of which would determine whether another consultation was undertaken.

 

Responding a question on how the Council would select the independent market research company to carry out a survey of residents, the Head of Democratic Services reported the Council would go out to tender to professional organisations.

 

Resolved:

That the approach for the Tettenhall Community Governance consultation and the City-wide Community Governance consultation be approved.

7.

Calendar of Meetings 2017 - 2018 pdf icon PDF 56 KB

[To endorse the calendar of meetings for recommendation to Full Council]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Advisory Group received for consideration the draft calendar of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year. 

 

Resolved:

That the political groups on the Council be consulted on the calendar of meetings and thereafter the schedule be submitted to Full Council on 1 February 2017 for approval.