Previous reference – Minute 60 (2018/19)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “V”) provides information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during April – September 2019.

Recommended –

That the constructive engagement with a wide range of the public undertaken through community engagement activities by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period April to September 2019 be noted.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “V”)  provided information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during April - September 2019.

Appended to the report were details of community engagement activities that had been undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office between April – September 2019.  These included ‘traditional’ Neighbourhood Forums, public meetings organised by KACO staff open to all but run on a different format to a Neighbourhood Forums, meetings targeted at particular ‘people  groups’ (e.g. young people), attendance at meetings and other events organised by partner agencies or community groups, door-knocking and ‘street consultations’.

The variety of approaches had proved much more effective at reaching a wider and more diverse range of the general public than normally attended Neighbourhood Forums.

It was explained that the Area Co-ordinator’s Office would continue to identify ways of making Neighbourhood Forums, and other forms of consultation and community engagement, relevant to the interests and character of each particular neighbourhood and to work with elected Members on ways of increasing public attendance and engagement.

Officers continued to have the flexibility to arrange public meetings in response to local issues that arose outside of the planned schedule of engagement activities, where a majority of Members representing the relevant Ward considered that a public meeting was required.

The importance of the use of the internet and Social Media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) as a means of communication and consultation was recognised by the Area Co-ordinator’s office, and staff now regularly used digital media as a means of engagement alongside meetings, events and activities. To date the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office had 853 followers on Twitter and 331 members of its Facebook group.  Members were encouraged to sign up to the Facebook page. 

Members requested that future reports identify if community engagement activities had been instigated by the Area Co-ordinator’s Office or were community led. 

A Member reported that an issue which continued to be raised by residents at his surgeries was fly tipping.  He requested if items which should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HMRC) could be collected twice per year from residents’ homes.  In response it was explained that Council policy encouraged residents to be responsible for their own waste and to take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre or to arrange a collection through the Council’s Waste Service.  The trial of a recycling service at the HMRC at Bowling Back Lane in Bradford was discussed.  It was not known if that service had been continued and the Area Co-ordinator agreed to investigate if that service had been continued and extended.

Members raised an issue with delays to street lamp bulb replacement and the Chair reported that sodium lamps were being replaced with LED and he believed that delays had occurred in obtaining the correct bulbs.  

Issues with fallen leaves on streets which were not swept resulting in blocked gullies were raised.  Members referred to complaints they received from residents and suggested that engagement was needed with the relevant services to allow them to inform their constituents how services were operated and the reasons for any inactivity. 

Resolved –

That the constructive engagement with a wide range of the public undertaken through community engagement activities by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period April to September 2019 be noted.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place