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Community Engagement

Community Engagement Forums are designed to give local people the opportunity to meet councillors, council officers and representatives of other partner agencies (e.g. Police, Highways North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue). They aim to provide a focus for local discussion and to provide an opportunity for all sections of the community to air issues of local concern. 

The CEF is made up of the district and county councillors who represent the area covered by that CEF, Parish Council representatives, and co-opted members (perhaps local community activists or representatives of local organisations).


The purpose of a CEF is to:

  • Gauge views on possible new initiatives or ideas for services provided by the Council and other agencies;
  • Draw service providers' attention to the concerns of the community;
  • Produce a community action plan; and
  • Make decisions on grants to local voluntary organisations and groups.
Further information on CEFs can be viewed at the dedicated CEF website - www.your-community.org.uk
 
Engaging the community is a core function of the Partnership. Without understanding the needs of the local community, priorities would be lost and the focus would not be directed. The Partnership will not undertake this function in isolation; working with, and developing structures that exist already to engage with communities. Through embracing diversity and ensuring equality the Partnership intends to enhance opportunities with those that are traditionally harder to engage. As part of an inclusive approach, the Partnership will work in conjunction with police safer neighbourhood teams, county, district and parish councils and other statutory and voluntary organisations working within our communities.

The Partnership will develop and enhance approaches that will allow communities to identify their priorities and have a voice to ensure issues affecting their lives are dealt with and where appropriate, agencies, officers and councillors are held to account. A variety of approaches will be used to engage communities including written material, the use of websites through media opportunities, public meetings and interactive ‘face the people’ sessions. Although it is something that the partnership wants to undertake, legislation makes community engagement a legal requirement and we want to ensure it is a positive and worthwhile experience. The Partnership will develop a Communications Plan in order that this area of work becomes more inclusive and community focused.