working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Pathways of Influence

Roger Roberts

Voluntary Action Cumbria /

North West Rural Community Councils

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Community plans are …

• Elective (voluntary)

• Involves all parts of the community

• Evidence-based

• Action focused

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

In the North West …

• Local services• Young people• Affordable housing• Traffic, parking & transport

Completed In progress

Cheshire 34 25

Cumbria 97 32

Lancashire 50 17

Common Issues

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Findings …

• Community led planning is critical to:– Community empowerment– Duty to involve– ‘Place shaping’– Supports local councillors with evidence– Informs LDF development– LAA – e.g. NI 4 – people believing that they

can influence the decisions that affect them

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

The Calls to Action

• Capacity and cohesion– Support the process– Recognise contribution to LAA outcomes

• Failure to influence results in frustration– Support action plan implementation– Use local evidence to inform strategy

• Councils/Agencies challenged in responding– Communities / partners must make plans robust and

relevant

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Calls 2

• Quality, credibility and sound evidence– Adhere to guidance on quality processes

• Independent facilitation helps quality– Sustain effective support– Demonstrate better outcomes

• Early engagement engenders support– Talk to officers and members at the start

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Calls 3

• Councillors are key– Members / officers informed and responsive

• Formal processes help make best use of plans– Develop partnership and protocols– Require demonstrable use of evidence– Embed in Comprehensive Area Assessment

• Leaders are crucial– Commitment from the top counts

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils

Calls 4

• Size matters– Base community planning on strategically

relevant localities

• Work with the system– Align community led planning with local

engagement structures & LSP– Embed CLP outcomes and actions in terms of

reference and regular business

working with people and communities to improve their quality of life

North West Rural Community Councils