Decision details

Renewing Our Approach to Working with the Communities of Sheffield

Decision Maker: Strategy and Resources Policy Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Decision:

10.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement and Director of Customer Experience and Communities submitted a joint report proposing that over the coming year, we work with communities and our Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector to co-create a collective, long-term ambition for communities in Sheffield that helps to deliver our City Goals.

 

Further, the report provides an initial reflection on the city’s response to the violent racially motivated disorder that affected many parts of the country in the summer of 2024 (Appendix 1); and a response to the Full Council resolution on “reaffirming Sheffield as a city of sanctuary” and to agree to seek reaccreditation as a Local Authority of Sanctuary (Appendix 2).?

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) requests officers to initiate the development of a new Communities Strategy in collaboration with communities and other partners, with a draft to be presented to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee in early summer 2025 and a final version of the strategy following formal consultation to be presented to the committee in September 2025;

 

 

 

(b) approves the establishment of a cross-party Member reference group to support the development of the work;

 

 

 

(c) notes the response of the city’s communities and the council to the violent disorder that affected many parts of the country in the summer of 2024; and

 

 

 

(d) notes the information contained in Appendix 2 of the report which responds to the Full Council resolution on “reaffirming Sheffield as a city of sanctuary” and agrees to seek reaccreditation as a Local Authority of Sanctuary.

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

10.3.1

To take steps to ensure that Sheffield has an ambitious vision for communities in the city, which is co-created and owned by communities and sets long-term direction for the Council and its relationship with people and partners.

 

 

10.3.2

To respond positively to the Full Council motion on “reaffirming Sheffield as a city of sanctuary” and to provide Elected Members with an update on the city’s response to the violent, racist and Islamophobic disorder that was seen over the summer.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Do nothing

We could choose to continue without a Communities Strategy but as detailed above, having a shared vision and set of ambitions with communities is a critical part of the Council Plan and city council’s transformation into a community and customer focused council.

 

 

10.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Produce a strategy more quickly

Recognising the gap in our Strategic Framework, we could choose to develop the new Communities Strategy more quickly. However, this would significantly limit the extent of community and VCFSE involvement in the co-creation of the strategy and risk the resulting vision and ambitions not being shared by the people of Sheffield.

 

Report author: Tom Smith

Publication date: 22/10/2024

Date of decision: 16/10/2024

Decided at meeting: 16/10/2024 - Strategy and Resources Policy Committee

Accompanying Documents: