Thanet council’s Cabinet members have accepted a report by a working group of councillors aimed at improving the authority’s relationship with the isle’s many and varied voluntary and community organisations.
The report was produced by a working party chaired by Green Party Councillor Tricia Austin.
Its original job was to look at how the council could help groups bring more grant funding into Thanet; however, during discussions with officials, voluntary sector representatives and other bodies, the group found it needed to go wider than this.
The report outlined both good and bad feedback from voluntary sector leaders on working with the council. It concluded with 12 recommendations on how the council could improve its relationship with the sector, plus five further areas for future consideration.
Immediate recommendations included setting up a voluntary sector forum, simplifying language and paperwork, recognising and making best use of skills and knowledge in the sector and identifying a lead officer contact for VCS groups.
The report also proposed key actions with no staffing or financial implications, centred on the council’s attitude and approach, such as building equal partnerships and committing to openness and transparency.
Report author Cllr Tricia Austin said: “I’m delighted that Cabinet has supported our recommendations and recognised the need for us to learn from our mistakes as well as our successes.
“We are particularly pleased that a voluntary sector forum and a named contact officer for the VCS will be established immediately.
“We all rely heavily on the hard work of our voluntary sector to provide support to our most vulnerable citizens and to enhance our quality of life in Thanet – so it is vital that as a council we do everything we can to facilitate, recognise and celebrate their work and be a reliable, strong and supportive partner.”
The report can be found at: External Grant Funding Review Working Party Report Final Version .docx – Google Docs
Well done Trisha and everyone involved. Attitude is everything and unfortunately very often, residents and groups are treated as an irritating afterthought or a thorny annoyance. Trying to host an event is more bureaucratic than the politbureau.
It is a politburo running TDC. Open and transparent, equal partnership,I should Co Co!
Tricia is well meaning and the cabinet are also on target, but there is a legacy of underhand, self aggrandising officers,some of whom are still there in the woodwork.
I would say to anyone in range of TDC to beware Greeks bearing gifts.
Maybe Tricia ought to write a report on better relationships with the Towns and Parishes as well.
That’s a little patronising don’t you think?
No truthful.
I’m with George! A start would be to make emails addressed to Councillors be answered within 3 days, that includes ALL political parties, including the Greens!
Well done Tricia. The clean up of TDC continues and it’s great to read that the council must learn from failures as well as successes. So many people of Thanet on voluntary organisations who step in to do what the council does (?or can) not.
The clean up of TDC continues…? The laziest bunch of incompetent clowns imaginable.
It takes TDC five months to move a burnt out caravan from a main road.
It seems the Green Party are the only party working for community improvements.
I don’t get it! Cllr Austin of the Green Pty has done a great thing but it feels like despite this, or maybe because of it, certain types just want to undermine it and her.
TDC is very far from perfect. But, Georgey Noakes & Dumpton, Cllr Austin has been doing something about it for years now. This Report is the latest evidence of a true community asset.