Chairs and Clerks are invited to help design neighbourhood governance.
Community Conversations is the current title for what will eventually become Dorset Council's neighbourhood governance arrangements - you may know them by other names like Neighbourhood Boards, Area Committees, Area Forums and Local Community Networks. The aim of such arrangements is to improve how unitary authorities work with community partners, including Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings, local voluntary organisations and statutory partners such as health services. Regardless of what they are called, the government is due to make these arrangements a legal requirement later this year.
Dorset Council is inviting all Chairs and Clerks of Parish and Town Councils in its area to attend one of four online Community Conversations Design Sessions. Each session will be identical and hosted by Sam Crowe, Dorset Council's Executive Director for Housing Prevention and Communities. The aim is to have open and honest conversations to understand how all involved can work more closely and effectively together for all communities - the contribution and insights of Chairs and Clerks to the design process will help ensure Community Conversations are meaningful and inclusive.
The Community Conversations Design Sessions will explore:
- How Dorset Council can strengthen connection with, and understanding of, its communities by working more locally.
- How to ensure greater involvement of residents in decision-making that affects their local neighbourhoods.
- How to ensure services provide the best possible value of money for Dorset residents, reduce costs and support long-term financial sustainability.
- How to support seamless, joined-up services by improving collaboration between Dorset Council and partners in communities and a ‘no wrong door’ approach.
The design of Community Conversations is still in the early planning stages and your thoughts on whether the areas for exploration are the right ones, or if anything is missing, would be really appreciated. Your advice is also welcomed on:
- Proposed grouping of Dorset areas for the events.
- How and when the events should run locally.
Once Design Sessions are completed, Dorset Council will provide further opportunities for input from Chairs, Clerks and Councillors, along with other local organisations, on the next steps for Community Conversations.
Book a Community Conversations Design Session:
- Tuesday 5 May, 6.30pm–7.30pm
- Thursday 7 May, 11am–12pm
- Wednesday 13 May, 4pm-5pm
- Friday 15 May, 10am-11am
To book send an email, specifying which Design Session you wish to attend, to
