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Resolved that:
 
(a)      
the ‘Connected Communities’ model, to extend the reach
of community support services and ensure ongoing financial
viability, be approved;
 
(b)       in
accordance with (a) above, in order to achieve this approach, the
following key changes to the service be approved:
 
(i)           
a team of Local Area Coordinators to provide support
to those most in need be established;

 
(ii)         
a local voluntary sector organisation be
commissioned to:
 
-      
provide support and training to the voluntary
sector;
-      
increase funding being brought into the
Borough;
-      
train local volunteers as community connectors to
ensure people were signposted to the support they need;
 
(iii)        
move from directly operating six Centres for the
Community to enabling the voluntary sector to provide a wider range
of community spaces to support more people with a wider range of
needs. To include:

 
-      
bringing together operators of community hubs across
Elmbridge to share learning;
-      
transferring activities from the Weybridge Centre
for the Community into the new library community hub, with the
Council continuing to provide these services in partnership with
Surrey County Council and others;
-      
establishing an open and transparent process for
voluntary sector and community organisations to lease or buy the
six Centres for the Community to provide ongoing and wider
community benefit;
 
(iv)      
the direct delivery of the Meals on Wheels service be wound down
and replaced with bespoke support. Current Meals on Wheels clients
to be first priorities for the Local Area Coordinators, to enable
them to receive more holistic support and transition to an
alternative food service provider and wellbeing
provision;
 
(v)        provide
funding to allow EBC dementia care to explore the feasibility of
becoming a charity or Community Interest Company and develop a full
business plan as appropriate;
 
(vi)      
continue to deliver community transport while exploring the
potential to align with Surrey County Council’s Surrey
Connect model to create a more effective community transport
offer;
 
(c)        the
communication plan be approved;
 
(d)       the transition plan
be approved;
 
(e)      
the renaming of Community Services to Community, Health and
Wellbeing be noted; and
 
(f)        authority be
delegated to the Strategic Director (Place & Community), in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Care, to enter
into any leases, licenses, agreements, contracts and other legal
documents necessary to fulfil the recommendations provided that any
decision regarding the outright sale of any of the six Centres for
the Community should be subject to a separate decision and approval
by Cabinet.