Meeting documents

To provide an opportunity to review co-production with communities, social capital and community development and expand the topic to start to address social isolation and how the Council considers Social Value. 

Lead Member - Councillor Steve Butler.

The Committee considered a report by the Interim Director for Adult and Community Services which provided an overview of the Council’s work with communities, social capital and community development so that the Committee could consider areas for scrutiny.

The Head of ICT and Customers Services provided a presentation which illustrated how digital technology could be used to meet people’s needs and make a positive difference.  This included a video which showed how social media could be used to get people to respond more quickly to emergency situations.

The Committee considered the report in detail.  Members recognised that not everyone wanted to be digitally enabled, but there was a need for such people not to be overlooked. The role that digital technology could play in addressing social isolation was also recognised, helping to build community capacity and making a difference to people’s lives.  The role that local members could play in helping communities to identify those in need and how they might be helped was highlighted.  Examples of where this was already happening were cited.  It was also suggested that digital technology might help address current transport issues that were being addressed through the Holistic Transport Review Board.  Members also realised that some funding might be needed to start to build community capacity on an invest-to-save basis and that they had a role to play in sharing best practice with their communities, particularly in areas pf greatest challenge and need.

Attention was drawn to some areas where broadband coverage was poor and the difficulties this posed for children’s education, and those living in the more remote areas.  Members noted that a previous Policy Development Panel on Broadband had made eight recommendations to the Environment Overview Committee which they might like to review or scrutinise further.  They also noted that broadband take up was lowest in the most deprived areas.

Concern was expressed that local members were still not routinely being informed of action being taken in their divisions.

As a way forward, it was agreed that a Task and Finish Group be established comprising Steve Butler, Fred Drane, William Trite, David Walsh and Kate Wheller to look at setting up a pilot project in a deprived and isolated area where digital take up was lower, to build community capacity to address social isolation, with a view to rolling this out across Dorset.  As the Partnership for Older People Programme (POPPs) was seen as integral to this work, they would be included in the Group’s membership,

It was suggested that the Members ICT Group be made aware of the Task and Finish Group’s work and officers were asked to identify possible areas for the Task and Finish Group to concentrate on.

Resolved

1.   That a Task and Finish Group be established comprising David Walsh, Steve Butler, Fred Drane, William Trite and Kate Wheller to look at setting up a pilot project in a deprived and isolated area where digital take up was lower, to build community capacity to address social isolation, with a view to rolling this out across Dorset. A representative of POPPs would be included in its membership.

2.    That officers identify possible areas for a pilot by using available information.