Purpose

To seek Cabinet's approval to submit the
Partnership Stronger Together Communities Strategy to the Council
for endorsement.

Based on extensive engagement with residents, people learning,
working or visiting Bracknell Forest, the strategy has been
co-produced by over 20 partner organisations with the aim to enable
community resilience, connection and cohesion.

Endorsement will confirm the Council’s commitment to working
with residents, partners and other stakeholders to deliver the
Stronger Together Communities Strategy’s aims to further
strengthen our community to ensure everyone belongs, is listened
to, well informed and connected; people can join in, help each
other and take pride in where they live and work.

Decision

RECOMMENDED to Council that:
 

i.     
the Stronger Together Communities Strategy (Appendix A) is endorsed
by the Council, underpinned by the Endorsement Statement (Appendix
B).
 

ii.    
they formally record its thanks to all the organisations and
residents that have contributed to developing the strategy
including through the extensive engagement with residents, people
learning, working or visiting Bracknell Forest.

Reasons for the decision

1)   
Endorsement will confirm the Council’s commitment to working
with residents,
partners and other
stakeholders to deliver the strategy’s aims towards the
vision: “Together we will further strengthen our community to
ensure everyone belongs, is listened to, well informed and
connected; people can join in, help each other and take pride in
where they live and work.”.
 

2)   
Endorsing the Stronger Together Communities Strategy aligns with
the council’s commitment to a cohesive and engaged
communities, national legislation, statutory duties and national
priorities that emphasise empowered, place-based communities and
strengthened local governance. National reforms, including the
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, promote deeper
local decision-making, community ownership and partnership-led
delivery – positioning Bracknell Forest to build trust,
prevent community tensions and work proactively together to create
the conditions for strong, connected and cohesive communities.
 

3)   
Engaged and healthy communities is a priority in the Council Plan
2023-2027 and an ambition within this is that community development
and spaces encourage a cohesive and engaged community. This
strategy will provide a strategic guide for this priority for the
council, as well as for partner organisations and communities
themselves.
 

4)   
In developing strategic service and financial planning from 2026-29
the council will be working with its partners to empower
communities, collaborate and innovate and ensure its decisions are
evidence based. The Stronger Together Communities Strategy is an
important enabler of this strategic direction.

Alternative options considered

1)         The
alternative option to not endorse the strategy. As outlined above,
engaged and healthy communities is a council priority. There is
also significant buy-in from partner organisations and there has
been extensive resident engagement. To not take the strategy
forward would be a missed opportunity to work together to
strengthen communities across the borough and to make the most
effective use of existing resources through collaboration and
coordination.
 
2)         Not
endorsing the strategy, would not help the Council’s
reputation in terms of listening to residents and valuing the
contribution of residents and partners in coproducing the strategy.
The strategy takes a strength base approach to align efforts and
resources of partners and to enable and inspire residents to act
and join in. It would also mean that partner organisations,
delivering the strategy without council’s participation,
would be less effective in enabling residents to act together
towards their aspirations and to tackle the local challenges.