Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Environment and Finance & Governance and the Director of Environment and Community Services submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to seek funding for ancillary equipment and support to assist community and volunteer initiatives throughout Middlesbrough.

Community groups and volunteers provided important additional environmental support to the Council’s services and were increasingly valued. Their work was integral to keeping Middlesbrough’s environment to a good standard and further encouraging community participation. That was especially important as Middlesbrough moved forward on its green agenda, striving to reach carbon neutrality and increase the level of biodiversity in the Town.

Providing a supportive approach was leading to growing numbers of volunteers, who were now networking with each other, leading to far reaching linked projects across the town. As well as promoting the groups projects/initiatives via social media, the Council could offer resource assistance by way of purchasing and holding a stock of consumable supplies. That would enable those groups to readily access tools, equipment and technical support to deliver initiatives, which were of benefit to the environment, improving aesthetics and the well-being of residents.

Key milestones to enable a measurement of performance against the intended outcomes, included:

·        developing a communications and marketing plan;

·        developing an education plan to raise awareness of responsible waste management and recycling;

·        developing a plan to work with community groups and volunteers; and

·        providing continual support and provision of equipment as required.

OPTIONS

To not supply equipment, advice and support to community and volunteer groups was not an option. It would have impacted on the Council’s green agenda and groups would lose heart and faith in the Local Authority and eventually lose interest in improving Middlesbrough.

ORDERED

That £150,000 revenue (£50,000 per annum over three years) be approved to support community involvement in wide reaching environmental Initiatives, to improve local environmental standards across their communities and across Middlesbrough.

REASON

The proposed changes planned to support the Council’s commitment to working with its communities and partners to ensure that ideas and resources were shared to achieve joint goals. It would also assist in meeting the Council’s aims detailed in its 2020-2023 Strategic Plan:

·        working with communities and other public services to improve the lives of our residents;

·        working with communities to improve local health and wellbeing, focusing in particular on tackling obesity, poor mental health and substance misuse; and

·        working with local communities to redevelop Middlesbrough’s disadvantaged estates, and introduce locality working with our partners, placing services at the heart of communities.