Issue - meetings

To review the final draft of the annual scrutiny report.

To receive and review a report on the City for All Strategy.

8.1       The Commission received a written and short verbal update from Mo Rahman (Head of Strategy and Performance) and Nic Wells (Strategy Manager) who provided an update on the Council’s City for All Strategy.

8.2       The Commission discussed the following topics in detail:

•           The consultation and communication to residents about the City for All Strategy and how this can be improved.

•           The research methodology and sample size used within the City Survey and whether this sample size was representative.

•           How to avoid replicating voices when engaging with community groups and how to reach beyond usual engagement partners.

•           The input of policy and scrutiny committees into the City for All Strategy.

•           How the thriving economy fourth pillar is bedding in and how its interacting with the cleaner and greener pillar.

8.3       Concerning the consultation with residents and communication to residents of the City for All priorities, the Commission discussed how the consultation could avoid replicating voices when engaging with community groups and how to reach beyond usual engagement partners. Officers informed the Commission that they had received similar feedback from the Youth Council who stated that they should engage directly with youth clubs on the strategy.

8.4       The Commission discussed in detail the methodology and sample size behind the City Survey. Officers informed the Commission that there the sample size was 2500 and that this was statistically significant and representative of residents across Westminster.

8.5       Members of the Commission pressed Officers on the involvement of Policy and Scrutiny Committees in shaping the City for All priorities. Members asked if the Strategy to come to the Committees before it was formulated in order to have input. It was agreed that the Strategy would come before the Committees to be scrutinised once published.

8.6       The Commission discussed whether the phrase ‘city’ was recognised by all residents, especially those in the north of the Borough. Officers informed the Commission that the Councils messaging, specifically ‘a city for all’ was well known by residents.

8.7       Concerning the fourth pillar of the City for All Strategy, a thriving economy, the Commission discussed how it was bedding in and interacting with the other priorities, particularly the cleaner and greener priority. Senior Officers said the two priorities were working well with one another and in some areas, businesses were encouraging the Council to go hard and faster with their cleaner and greener commitments.

8.8       ACTIONS: The Commission recommended that:

•           Officers provide the questions within the City Survey to the Commission to help guide the scrutiny of the City for All Strategy

8.9       RESOLVED: that the Committee note the report.