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Community Leadership and Governance
The proposals for community governance, engagement and flexibility have been the cornerstone of our unitary bid and are seen as Wiltshire’s unique selling point. Our track record and beacon status in community planning has provided a solid foundation of work within our 20 community areas.
The Workstream is a package of inter-related legal, constitutional and governance issues and is broken down into 6 key project areas:
- Member recruitment, elections and induction
- Constitution and schemes of delegation
- Community Boards and Partnerships
- Wiltshire Assembly and other partnerships
- Delegation to Town and Parish Councils
- Boundary Review
More than any other this Workstream is highly visible and politically sensitive; its governance arrangements will need to feature a wide range of stakeholders and for them to be involved in shaping and buying into these new arrangements.
Objectives
- to establish new legal and constitutional arrangements
- to allow greater devolved powers to the community area level and greater delegated decision-making to senior elected members and officers
- to recruit, train and support a new leadership role for councillors – as active citizens and leaders of their communities
- to embed new governance arrangements at the community level through the establishment of a new community area model - a board working alongside a partnership - to deliver enhanced community influence and decision making
- to re-define new governance arrangements in South Wiltshire to reflect the particular geography and special needs of the area- including a strengthened democratic voice for the city of Salisbury
- to preserve the traditions and ceremonial heritage of the county
- to encourage the delegation of key local services to town and parish councils to run according to local needs
What will it achieve?
- Unitary Council election arrangements 2009
- New constitution
- Revised schemes of delegation to officer and members
- 20 Community Boards
- 20 ‘fit for purpose’ Community Area Partnerships
- New Wiltshire Assembly, Accountable Bodies Group and family of partnerships
- New partnership arrangements in South Wiltshire including a review of community area boundaries
- Parishing of the City of Salisbury
- Ceremonial functions safeguarded
- Town and Parish Councils empowered to deliver council services (as our agents)
How will it be managed?
The Community Leadership and Governance Project Board is meeting monthly to oversee the management of the programme.
An External Reference Group will provide stakeholder input from local communities as well as Police, Fire/ Rescue and Health services. This group will be made up of District and County Councillors, the Wiltshire Forum of Community Area Partnerships, the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils and other representatives of the Voluntary and Community Sector.
Jo Howes has been appointed as Workstream Project Co-ordinator to deliver the programme of work and to ensure key milestones are achieved.
Contact Details
By Post
Community Leadership and Governance
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
By Email
By Telephone
01225 713180