"A way of learning together what hope, trust, respect and responsibility mean to Swindon communities and how we can build on that together to make a difference."
Cllr. Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member, Connecting People, Connecting Places introduced the programme at the Swindon Strategic Partnership Conference in February 2009. The full details are available in the SSP Conference report.
Connecting People Connecting Places is built on three guiding principles:
- More meaningful engagement with people and communities – developing meaningful conversations.
- Delivering public services that are more locally sensitive - local communities become increasingly involved in setting and delivering priorities.
- Building on a ‘sense of community’ – supporting and helping communities to help themselves.
Connecting People Connecting Places presentation
We are planning to work together as public services to change current policy, practice and organisational models to ensure that we support people in their local neighbourhoods to build better, more independent lives and stronger more sustainable communities.
Within the Borough we have identified seven ‘cluster’ areas. The clusters are built around ward boundaries and Connecting People Connecting Places is a way of supporting elected members as representatives of their communities and as local leaders and decision makers. Elected members will convene cluster forums with interested community champions and local people and will discuss local issues and develop local solutions.
Cluster area postcode information
Each cluster has a Cluster Lead. Cluster Leads are existing senior managers within Swindon Borough Council, including the Head of Libraries, the Director of Law, and the Policy and Regeneration Manager. The cluster leads will act as facilitators, listening to people, gathering stories and brokering local solutions. A full description of the role of the Cluster Lead is available below. Without additional resources we are changing the way we work in the Council and with partners to provide the organisational flexibility required to deliver local improvements. We will be sharing service expertise, and developing local expertise within the Council, between partners, and across the Borough allowing us to identify opportunities, links, organisational efficiencies and new solutions to improve outcomes.
Connecting People Connecting Places has been discussed at the specially formed Overview and Monitoring Plus group meetings from December 2008, notes from these meetings can be found on the meetings page.