Community Committee

23.2

COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
10 Members + Mayor & Deputy ex-officio	Quorum = 4

EXPLANATION TO CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE

The Terms of Reference for the Community Committee have originated from a review of the Terms of Reference for the Community and Environment Committee which can be viewed here. The major change is that section 3 which was all about the Environment has moved to its own Committee. Other sections have been rearranged and there have been some grammatical, updating and reordering changes where the sentiment behind the sentence has been updated. There have been some additions to reflect new responsibilities – such as the information centre and deletions where no longer needed – such as the SLA for a PCSOs.

The changes are explained in more detail in the Change Document accompanying this paper as there are too many changes to easily meet a colour code.

Purpose

The purpose of the Community Committee is to promote the wellbeing and enjoyment of people in Congleton. It includes enhancing the life of everyone through accessible and affordable celebrations, events, activities, communications and campaigns.

The Committee also promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, mental and physical health, safety and freedom from crime and social cohesion. It seeks to have a measurable impact on the quality of life of people who live in, work in, and visit Congleton.

All decisions of the Committee should consider the following implications:

• Financial – will this deliver the best value for money for Congleton and its residents?
• Environmental – how will this impact carbon footprint, biodiversity, air quality or other environmental factors, and how will this be mitigated if required?
• Equality – will people with different characteristics (according to the CTC Equality & Inclusion Policy) be impacted differently, and what will be done to mitigate this if required?

Delegation of Functions of the Committee

• Committee has strategic overview of all points in sections 1-8 below, under the direction of Council.
• Chief Officer responsible for operational management, and may delegate to members of the Leadership Team.
• Any funding requirements for projects will be submitted to the Finance and Policy Committee in line with financial regulations.

Functions of Committee

1. (1.) Community Engagement
   1. (1.1) Respond to strategic plans of the Council or other bodies which have an impact on the wellbeing of people in Congleton.
   2. (1.2) Encourage and support events that generate better social cohesion.
   3. (1.3) Support gaining accreditation for Congleton with organisations that align with CTC’s strategy and values.
   4. (1.4) Create and execute a communications plan to promote activities, policies, events and campaigns to the local community via all channels including print, online and in-person.
   5. (1.5) Consult with and listen to local people, businesses and VCSEs (Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprises) to prioritise CTC activities.
   6. (1.6) Facilitate and support VCSEs to carry out their own activities and enable their collaboration with each other for the benefit of the community.
   7. (1.7) Support specific partner organisations to carry out their work, such as Congleton Community Projects, the CAB and Congleton Partnership.
   8. (1.8) Create Working Groups as required to implement or develop the decisions of the Committee and invite members of the wider community to join these and contribute their time and expertise.

1. (2.) Community Safety
   1. (2.1) Work with Cheshire Police on initiatives to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and to support victims of crime.
   2. (2.2) Receive regular reports from Cheshire Police on major crime types including anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, domestic abuse, burglary, sexual violence, hate crime and road traffic offences.
   3. (2.3) Lead the implementation of the Community Safety Charter, the White Ribbon Campaign and other initiatives to support and engage residents in reducing, preventing and reporting crime.
   4. (2.4) Lobby for funding and support from national and regional bodies for projects and initiatives to make Congleton a safer place to live, visit and work.
   5. (2.5) Work with the principal authority to enhance CCTV and other community safety technology.
   6. (2.6) Support home safety initiatives with partner organisations.
2. (3.) Health and Wellbeing
   1. (3.1) Support projects and initiatives that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people in Congleton.
   2. (3.2) Improve access to and co-ordination of local services, provided by the NHS or VCSEs, that contribute to the physical and mental health of local people.
   3. (3.3) Promote national or local campaigns that encourage people to live healthier lives, such as being more active, eating well, reducing alcohol intake or stopping smoking.
   4. (3.4) Engage with local people, businesses and VCSEs to develop initiatives and events that promote healthy living.
   5. (3.5) Work with the NHS to lobby for more and improved physical and mental health services in Congleton.
3. (4.) Travel and Transport
   1. (4.1) Develop plans and projects that enable people to move around, and in and out of, Congleton in practical, affordable and sustainable ways.
   2. (4.2) Lobby for highway safety improvements for all road users, prioritising pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, buses and horse riders, and ensuring inclusion of those with additional needs.
   3. (4.3) Work with the local authority and service providers to lobby for improved public transport provision, including bus and rail services.
   4. (4.4) Ensure maps, signage and infrastructure are in place to support active travel such as walking and cycling.
   5. (4.5) Promote and support national and local sustainable transport initiatives, including walking and cycling schemes, car sharing, EV charging points and public transport promotions.
4. (5.) Leisure, Tourism and Heritage
   1. (5.1) Provide places, events and activities that attract local people and visitors to spend their leisure time in Congleton.
   2. (5.2) Boost leisure and tourism by encouraging and partnering with providers and offering promotional support.
   3. (5.3) Encourage a wide and diverse range of events, festivals, clubs and activities.
   4. (5.4) Deliver specific events in Congleton including the Christmas lights switch-on, Play Days, Health & Wellbeing Fayre, Remembrance Day and White Ribbon Day.
   5. (5.5) Support the work of Congleton Museum Trust, including the Museum and its events, projects and activities.
   6. (5.6) Manage, preserve and promote the town’s ancient records, monuments, artefacts and historic buildings within the Council’s control.
   7. (5.7) Ensure leisure opportunities are accessible to everyone, promoting equality, inclusion and participation.
   8. (5.8) Create a strategy for the Town Hall Information Centre as an online and in-person hub for leisure, tourism and heritage information.
5. (6.) Young and Older People
   1. (6.1) Work with partners, youth groups, schools and the principal authority to support services, activities and events for young people.
   2. (6.2) Identify and promote initiatives that support families who live in or visit Congleton.
   3. (6.3) Work with VCSEs and partners to help older people stay active and involved, addressing challenges such as isolation, mobility and health issues.
   4. (6.4) Engage with and involve young and older people in decision-making related to these activities.
6. (7.) Business Community
   1. (7.1) Promote the economic wellbeing of Congleton through partnerships with the business and community sectors.
   2. (7.2) Encourage sustainable development and regeneration in the town.
   3. (7.3) Lobby for sufficient high-quality employment sites and initiatives that promote inward investment.
   4. (7.4) Support skills development, training and best-practice sharing for local businesses.
   5. (7.5) Encourage local businesses to adopt good environmental and EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) practices.
   6. (7.6) Provide Christmas lights for the town centre.
   7. (7.7) Celebrate the successes of Congleton’s business community.
7. (8.) Emergency Support
   1. (8.1) Assist the principal authority in planning for and responding to emergency situations of a local or national nature.
   2. (8.2) Co-ordinate emergency responses with agencies including Cheshire East Council, the NHS, emergency services, VCSEs, businesses, schools and social services.
   3. (8.3) Communicate and engage regularly with the public during emergencies to provide reassurance, support and information, and to understand residents’ needs.