Pathways of Influence Roger Roberts Voluntary Action Cumbria / North West Rural Community Councils

Community plans are … Elective (voluntary) Involves all parts of the community Evidence-based Action focused

Elective (voluntary)

Involves all parts of the community

Evidence-based

Action focused

In the North West … Local services Young people Affordable housing Traffic, parking & transport Common Issues 17 50 Lancashire 32 97 Cumbria 25 34 Cheshire In progress Completed

Local services

Young people

Affordable housing

Traffic, parking & transport

Findings … Community led planning is critical to: Community empowerment Duty to involve ‘Place shaping’ Supports local councillors with evidence Informs LDF development LAA – e.g. NI 4 – people believing that they can influence the decisions that affect them

Community led planning is critical to:

Community empowerment

Duty to involve

‘Place shaping’

Supports local councillors with evidence

Informs LDF development

LAA – e.g. NI 4 – people believing that they can influence the decisions that affect them

The Calls to Action Capacity and cohesion Support the process Recognise contribution to LAA outcomes Failure to influence results in frustration Support action plan implementation Use local evidence to inform strategy Councils/Agencies challenged in responding Communities / partners must make plans robust and relevant

Capacity and cohesion

Support the process

Recognise contribution to LAA outcomes

Failure to influence results in frustration

Support action plan implementation

Use local evidence to inform strategy

Councils/Agencies challenged in responding

Communities / partners must make plans robust and relevant

Calls 2 Quality, credibility and sound evidence Adhere to guidance on quality processes Independent facilitation helps quality Sustain effective support Demonstrate better outcomes Early engagement engenders support Talk to officers and members at the start

Quality, credibility and sound evidence

Adhere to guidance on quality processes

Independent facilitation helps quality

Sustain effective support

Demonstrate better outcomes

Early engagement engenders support

Talk to officers and members at the start

Calls 3 Councillors are key Members / officers informed and responsive Formal processes help make best use of plans Develop partnership and protocols Require demonstrable use of evidence Embed in Comprehensive Area Assessment Leaders are crucial Commitment from the top counts

Councillors are key

Members / officers informed and responsive

Formal processes help make best use of plans

Develop partnership and protocols

Require demonstrable use of evidence

Embed in Comprehensive Area Assessment

Leaders are crucial

Commitment from the top counts

Calls 4 Size matters Base community planning on strategically relevant localities Work with the system Align community led planning with local engagement structures & LSP Embed CLP outcomes and actions in terms of reference and regular business

Size matters

Base community planning on strategically relevant localities

Work with the system

Align community led planning with local engagement structures & LSP

Embed CLP outcomes and actions in terms of reference and regular business