The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AH”) which gives an update on the progress of People Can with information on projects, key outcomes, application of a community development approach and wider linkage to council and partners communication channels.

Recommended –

The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee acknowledges and supports the work undertaking under the People Can programme.

(Mahmood Mohammed - 01274 437399)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AH”) which gave an update on the progress of People Can with information on projects, key outcomes, application of a community development approach and wider linkage to council and partners communication channels.

During the discussion Members made a number of observations around the People Can Programme which are set out below:

• That many of the projects highlighted in the report were already taking place prior to the emergence of People Can, such as the Friends of Parks Groups and community clean ups, and it was therefore difficult to see what additional value or dimension the People Can Programme added in this respect.

• That in respect of the Library Service there was no choice under the current Council’s budgetary constraints for volunteers but to take on the running of some of the libraries in the district, and therefore the volunteering within the Library Service could not be attributed to the People Can Programme.

• That the Financial and Resourcing of the People Can Programme should be reviewed by officers in order that the Programme offered good value for money.

• That the People Can Programme and the associated bureaucracy had the potential to deter volunteers or diminish what they were already doing in their respective communities.

• That it seemed that the principle objective of People Can was to put all volunteering activities under one umbrella.

• That the Programme in its current form was not using social media effectively and this approach should be fully evaluated.

• That there should be clarity on what projects would be undertaken under the People Can Programme, and how it would be distinct from previous volunteering activities.

In response to some of the issues raised by Members, the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods stated that it was not the intention of the People Can Programme to replicate or take credit for volunteering that was being undertaken in the district, but to provide support, advice and encourage more volunteers to come forward;  and he stressed that without People Can initiatives like the Community Stars Award would not take place.  He added that People Can would build on the existing volunteering activities and create a district wide momentum as well as build resilience.

In response to the financing and resourcing of the People Can Programme, the Assistant Director was keen to explain that the funding of the £90,000  coordinator post was over a 2 year period, and that the post was an integral part of promoting and coordinating volunteering in the context of reduced Council funding.

Resolved –

(1)       That a further report be presented in 6 months time, which should        also demonstrate the social value of the People Can Programme.

(2)       That this Committee expresses its concerns over the financing             and resourcing of People Can and requests that officers             reconsider their approach of the financing and resourcing of           People Can.

(3)       That the job description and job specification for the post of       People Can Coordinator be circulated to Members of this     Committee.

(4)       That the concerns raised by Members around the People Can    Programme be agreed with the Chair, and then circulated to            Members of this Committee and to the Chief Executive and             Strategic Director Place.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place