Final Community Assembly Meeting

Story: John Mellor

The final meeting of the North East Community Assembly took place on 2nd May at Shirecliffe Community Centre with just 12 local residents present.

The purpose was to explain the consultation being carried out to find out the views of local residents about what should happen in this new situation.

Vince Roberts, Head of Locality Management for the City Council, explained:

“Due to reductions in funding, the Council has to save £50 million in the current financial year. As part of this saving, the Community Assemblies’ budget of £2.6 million is being reduced to £580,000. The Council launched the first part of the consultation in January 2013, asking for the views of Sheffield residents on the impact of this change.”

He then went on to outline the proposals:

• New ward-based structures will be set up, with local councillors taking the lead in engaging their communities, setting out priorities and plans for wards.

• Funding will be allocated to each ward based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). On this basis, Burngreave qualifies for just under £20,000 per annum, the third highest in the city.

• The former Community Assembly boundaries will remain but will be renamed as ‘Areas’. A Local Action Partnership will be set up for each Area, chaired by a Councillor and will include representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors. A senior Council Officer will provide advice and support to the work of the Councillors and Local Action Partnerships in agreeing and implementing key priorities for each ward.

Those who attended the meeting took part in small group discussions and residents were encouraged to make their views known to the Council before the end of the consultation period on 3rd June.

The Consultation Report is available online at:

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/community-assemblies/consultation.htm l