Issue - meetings

Cabinet received a report on the Buckinghamshire Council Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Strategic Framework.

RESOLVED that the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Strategic Framework, included at appendix A, be approved.

G Williams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health, introduced the report and informed Members that the launch of the new Buckinghamshire Council on 1 April 2020 had coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The local response highlighted the strong partner relationships that existed in the county with the Voluntary Community Social Enterprise sector.  The response had shown how swiftly the Council could collaborate, adapt services, and embrace new ways of working under immense pressure. It also demonstrated the need to think differently, creatively, and be innovative in the ways that sectors work together. New, stronger alliances had been formed with a focus on protecting vulnerable residents, and a common goal to work together for Buckinghamshire.  It was vital that the Council continued to collaborate effectively at every level to build stronger, safer and more resilient communities and improve health and wellbeing.

The framework sought to demonstrate the value Buckinghamshire Council had for the sector and the importance of strategic collaborative working. It aims to provide a high level guide for partnership working with the VCSEs and act as a springboard for discussions around the needs of our communities.

There was a need to be responsive, flexible, and adaptive to changing needs - this would not be a static document. It would be underpinned by an action plan, co-produced with sectors and partners, and will continually evolve. The VCSE Recovery Board would be the key vehicle to drive the development of the action plan.

Members sought additional information and were informed:

·                    That the majority of the VCSE Board representation was from larger charities, although there were also 1-2 Trustees involved and a representative from the BAME community.

·                    That the Council was confident that the sector had a wide and inclusive reach across the whole community.

·                    That one of the hidden benefits of Covid had been to put pride back into community areas, which was helping to remake communities that had been considered fragmented a few years ago.  The future work of the Community Boards would be key to ensuring this work and benefits continued to be realised.

RESOLVED –

That the Buckinghamshire Council Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Strategic Framework be agreed.