Community Issues
What is community cohesion?
The shortest definition is that it’s about how the different groups that make up communities get on with each other, and whether they have a shared sense of what they want for their neighbourhood.
That sounds simple, but when you think about all the things that might affect it, you start to see that this is a very broad agenda.
The council can’t create community cohesion on its own – that happens out in communities and it involves everyone. But we do have a responsibility to try and create the right conditions for community cohesion to thrive, and to remove barriers wherever we can.
Community cohesion is partly about whether people -
- feel they’re getting a fair deal
- think others are getting more than them
- trust the Council and believe we’re meeting their needs
- think their neighbourhood is one where people get on well
WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community Engagement is the process by which community organisations and individuals build ongoing permanent relationships for the purpose of applying a collective vision for the benefit of the community.
Groby Parish Council aims to engage with all residents, voluntary groups and businesses in the Parish to consult and involve them in the decision making process and empowered action, in order to ensure consideration is made of the diversity that exists within the community.
DEFINING THE COMMUNITY
Groby Parish Council will proactively engage with residents, voluntary groups and businesses within the Parish, District and County Councils and third sector partnerships.
PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY
Groby Parish Council will inform all sectors of the community of all their activities through the publication of Minutes of Meetings, Agenda for Meetings, Annual Reports, Newsletters, public notices, including consultation of Local Development Frameworks, Local Plan, Planning Applications, and all matters relating to the organisation, administration and finance of the Parish Council.
Information will be made available via:
- Parish Notice Boards
- Newsletters
- Annual Reports
- Public Meetings
- Annual Parish Meetings
- Minutes of Parish Council Meetings
- Minutes of Planning Committee Meetings
- Parish Council Web-Site
Agendas for meetings are published on Notice Boards 7 days before the meeting itemising all items for discussion or consideration. Prior to each Parish Council meeting, residents have the opportunity during Public Participation to address Parish Councillors with their views, on any matter of concern.
Contact with the Clerk is available directly from the web-site and residents will be encouraged to enter into discussion forums.
Contact details for all sixteen parish councillors is published in the quarterly Parish Newsletter and the Annual Report. Where important issues have been identified, public meetings will be held inviting resident participation.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMAL REPRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
Residents, community organisations and businesses are encouraged to send written representations to the clerk at least 10 days before the date of the next meeting. These representations will be included on the Agenda for the next meeting and copies sent to all Councillors. After formal discussion, the applicant will receive a written response of any decision or action taken by the Parish Council.
INVOLVEMENT IN PARTNERSHIPS
The Parish Council is actively involved in community organisations and activities and some Councillors are Trustees or Elected Members of those organisations.
The Parish Council is a member of Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils, and the Clerk is a member of the Society of Local Councils.
ROLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
Councillors and the Clerk engage with the community by inviting members of the public to attend Parish Council meetings and setting time aside at the beginning of a meeting for public questions or comments. Contact details for the Clerk are available on Parish Council notice boards, and all Councillors contact details are published on the web-site and in the Quarterly newsletter.