BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
REPORT TO CABINET
26 MAY 2009
REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE – ‘A SHARED
COMMUNITY’
1.
Purpose of the Report
1.1
To advise the Cabinet of the discussions that have taken place within
the Town & Community Council Forum on this issue and the work
undertaken to develop a new charter between Bridgend CBC and the
Town and Community Councils within the area.
2.
Background
2.1
In July 2008, Dr Brian Gibbons the Minister for Social Justice and Local
Government wrote to all Unitary Authorities, Town and Community
Councils within Wales enclosing a copy of the report – ‘A Shared
Community’. This was published as final guidance to these bodies on
relationship building and the development of charters between the both
tiers of authorities.
2.2
Its purpose is to highlight the many opportunities for both Unitary
Authorities and Town and Community Councils to work together to
deliver better outcomes for local people.
3.
Current Situation/Proposal
3.1
The guidance represented the outcome from more than 12 months
research and collaboration between Welsh Assembly Government
(WAG), WLGA, representatives of unitary authorities, community and
town councils and other organisations. It identifies the potential benefits
that can accrue from working together to ensure the effective and
efficient provision of services to local communities.
3.2
The focal point of the guidance is the emphasis on establishing formal
Relationships, by agreeing a local charter. The Minister strongly
recommended such an approach being adopted but recognised that
each area will have a different experience and a different set of
priorities to agree.
3.3
The current Charter with Town and Community Councils in Bridgend
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was adopted in 1996. The new guidance proposed that local charters
encompass a wider range of headings than reflected in the existing
Bridgend document. Importantly, WAG is also indicating that such
charters should be voluntary and not a statutory obligation.
3.4
The guidance set out an expectation that all the bodies should aspire to
develop a partnership mode of interaction and that this should not be
dependant on delegation of functions. The overall aim should be to
promote joint working between the Councils with a view to improving
public services locally.
3.5
This issue was considered by the Bridgend Town and Community
Council Forum at its meeting last September and it was agreed that a
working group chaired by the Deputy Leader should be established to
give detailed consideration to this issue. It was also agreed that this
needed to be a manageable size with equal numbers to represent
BCBC and the Town and Community Councils.
3.6
The working group met on three occasions and the draft charter
attached as Appendix 1 is the product of this process. Members agreed
to use the model charter that was contained within the WAG guidance
as a basis for their initial discussions but a number of changes were
made to this as the working group believed it was important that the
new charter reflected local circumstances and was meaningful for the
Bridgend area.
3.7
The draft charter is essentially a statement of principles and sets out
the basis on which the County Borough Council and the Town and
Community Councils within the area will work together. The working
group approached this task in a very positive way and have given
careful consideration to each of the sections of the document. At
different stages, advice and guidance was also provided by senior
BCBC legal, finance and planning officers.
3.8
Within this process, work was also undertaken to identify the service
areas that were of main interest for Town & Community Councils in
order to inform the future work programme for the Forum. Arising from
the discussions on these, Members agreed that the following issues
should be scheduled as agenda items for meetings of the Forum in
2009/10 and that it receive reports or presentations on these topics as
appropriate :





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Public amenities – parks and open spaces
Planned programme – Highway maintenance
Capital fund for town and community council projects
Traffic management and road safety
Bus services
Alcohol free zones
Environmental Enforcement powers
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3.9
The Forum also agreed that Town and Community Councils should be
asked on a six monthly basis to identify issues of interest to them that
they would wish to have discussed at part of its work programme. This
will help facilitate the development (jointly) of a short annual Action
Plan which assigns responsibilities to the partners that can be reviewed
and reported on at regular intervals.
3.10
The draft Charter was considered by the Forum at its meeting on the
14th April 2009. Members indicated support for the work undertaken by
the working group and it was agreed that the document (attached as
Appendix 1) should be considered for adoption by each of the
authorities that are listed as potential parties to it.
3.11
Finally, Cabinet will wish to know that a letter has been sent to each of
the Town and Community Councils with a copy of the draft charter
advising them of the fact that the Forum is supportive of the document
and recommends it for adoption by all the Councils within the County
Borough.
4.
Effect upon Policy Framework and Procedure Rules
4.1
There is no impact on the BCBC Policy Framework and Procedure
rules.
5.
Legal Implications
5.1
There are no legal implications.
6.
Financial Implications
6.1
There are no financial implications.
7.
Recommendations
7.1
That Cabinet consider the draft charter at Appendix 1 and agree this be
adopted as a basis for further developing positive working relationships
between BCBC and Community and Town Councils within the County
Borough.
Jo Farrar
Chief Executive
8.
Contact Officer
Dave MacGregor
Asst. Chief Executive –
Corporate Development & Partnerships
Tel: 01656 643687
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E mail - david.macgregor@bridgend.gov.uk
9.0
Background documents
9.1
WAG Guidance – ‘A Shared Community’
Minutes of Council meeting of BCBC – 26th March 1996
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