The Committee was asked to approve the Community Services Business Unit Service Area Plan for 2023/2024 and to note that any General Fund business cases requiring growth would be subject to approval by Corporate Management Committee or full Council, depending on their value.

Officers advised that a corporate approach had been adopted to develop service plans for all of the business units.  These included a mission statement, planned activity, and outline business cases for growth items.  Each Corporate Head had been assigned targets in consultation with their relevant Member Working Party and Service Chair(s) which would be used to set objectives for their teams.

Officers provided a summary of the Community Services plan.  In doing so, the breadth of activities was noted, all contributing towards strands of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  In addition, areas of the plan supported other corporate strategies such as Climate Change and Empowering Communities.

Members acknowledged the wide range of services in the plan from prevention services, promotion of independent living, partnerships with the health and social care sector, work with communities, residents of all ages, voluntary, community and faith organisations. 

It was noted that Community Services encompassed sport and recreation, the arts, community safety, heritage and culture through Chertsey Museum and strategic work to enhance the Council’s green spaces, land held in Trust, playspace provision and recreational facilities.  Community Services contained 11 service areas and Community Development 8.

Officers also highlighted the Council’s membership of the North West Surrey Health Alliance and partnership with Surrey Heath on Prevention Services, and the Council’s lead on Social Prescribing, Homesafe Plus and CCTV.

Members reviewed the Service Area Plan for 2023/24.  It contained 19 Strategy Actions, and 6 Service efficiency/improvements.  With a robust structure and resources, Officers planned to deliver a number of new projects and initiatives.  These included:

·         Developmentof Safer Runnymede(HWB001)

·         Implementa playspace improvementprogramme(HWB018)

·         Deliver facilities and services across the borough for children and                    youngpeople (HWB020)

·         Investigate appropriate sites for play, sport and recreation  facilities/Kings Lane development(HWB024)

·         Implementation of community hub at Egham Hythe (if viable) (CSCD003)

·         Extensionof Homelinkto tenure neutralservice offer(HWB012)

·         Digitalisationof CommunityAlarm service(HWB003)

Members noted that the following proposed initiatives might require growth as part of their delivery; identifiedas partof thepreliminary work tobe undertaken:

·         Reviewof core voluntarysector grant funding(EC008)

·         Creationof LocalInitiatives Fund(EC006)

·         Development/Implementation of Community Safety Strategy  (HWB016)

·         Continuationof FamilySupport project(HWB039)

·         Reviewand futuredelivery ofMeals at Home (HWB040)

One Member asked about the Kings Lane Project and it was confirmed that this would be progressed in the near future to include a fresh consultation and public engagement regarding future facilities.  Officers also had the concept of a community hub for Chertsey South in mind as part of the theme of Community Hubs.

The Committee agreed it was an ambitious programme and looked forward to receiving updates and detailed business plans for growth items over the course of the year.

RESOLVED that –

i)          the 2023/2024 Community Services Business Unit Service Area Plan be approved; and

ii)         Members note any General Fund business cases requiring growth are subject to approval by Corporate Management Committee (or full Council, depending on value)