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Agenda item
Any other business
3:50
Minutes:
Communications plan and stakeholder engagement
Hannah summarised a paper on the above (see complete report below).
Support is requested from board members to support the project team in gathering stakeholder engagement details for the TIP and for support in marketing through individual organisations and networks. The paper will be circulated after the meeting.
The project team can be contacted at: TownDeal@hastings.gov.uk if board members have any questions or comments. Meetings will be arranged to go through the communications plan and the prioritisation if members wish to attend.
Report to: Hastings Town Deal Board
Date of Meeting: 17 September 2020
Report Title: Town Deal communications Plan and Stakeholder engagement
Report By: Hannah Brookshaw
Regeneration Manager
Purpose of Report
1. To provide information on the communications and stakeholder engagement plan
2. To provide information on key learning from the Towns Hub on cohort 1 Town Investment Plan submissions
Recommendation(s)
1. To note the requirements of the communications and stakeholder engagement plan and learning from cohort 1.
2. For board members to support the Town Deal project team in gathering stakeholder engagement for the TIP and to support the communication of Town Deal marketing through their own organisations and networks
Reasons for Recommendations
3. A stakeholder engagement plan and evidence of engagement is a requirement for inclusion in the Town Investment Plan.
4. Due to covid, previous traditional methods of engagement such as face-to-face events are not currently possible, therefore we need to use mechanisms we have available such as the town deal board and their networks.
Stakeholder Engagement Plan – Further Guidance criteria
5. Every Town Investment Plan (TIP) should include a stakeholder engagement plan, as defined in the Further guidance document. This should demonstrate how the town will:
· Involve: Show buy-in from stakeholders and the community throughout the development of the plan and beyond, particularly those who have an interest in proposals and projects
· Support: show how you will overcome barriers to engage a wide audience, being mindful of covid restrictions
· Evidence: identify the needs and resources needed to do this to agree ‘how’ and ‘when’ of the engagement to be undertaken
· Design: methods should be fit for purpose and demonstrate past, present and future engagement throughout the lifetime of the Town deal fund.
· Share information to that those who participate can make decisions and engage in the process
· Work with others: use the networks and organisations available to you
· Feedback: show how you will feedback the results of the engagement to the community and the impact their engagement has had (“You said, so we are” etc)
· Evaluate: monitor throughout the process and adjust as necessary to ensure the engagement meets its purpose.
Guidance and Learning from Towns Hub and cohort 1
6. The Towns Hub have produced a guidance document to assist with the development of the stakeholder engagement plan, they are also producing blogs and holding webinars on community engagement and learning from cohort 1 TIPs.
7. A recently held Towns Hub webinar has provided practical tips and feedback from cohort 1 TIPs:
· There is no one size fits all approach, be responsive to what will work for your town
· Use the premise of “past, present and future” as the basis for your stakeholder engagement plan – engagement should be ongoing and not just one point in time.
· Use what resources are available to you, particular in light of covid where traditional engagement measures are not really possible:
- what engagement has already happened – no need to start from scratch, most towns will already have a wealth of engagement work
· activate your board members
- use them to tap into their networks and past engagement they have done to share the messages and feedback from their networks
- use them during project prioritisation and challenge setting process as a sounding board
· Need to show how your ‘golden thread’, projects and outcomes have been informed by and shaped through your engagement.
· Take it to a granular level for projects. Once you have decided on those that will be included in section 2 of the TIP, identify project specific stakeholders that will be engaged as part of the project development and delivery (almost a mini-plan for each one).
Next Steps
8. Project officers will make contact with board members for details/sharing of past engagements/consultations to support the TIP, as well current and future engagement activities in the pipeline that may contribute to the process.
9. Board members support the engagement process –
- sharing digital media content posted by Hastings Council across their platforms and websites to widen the net of engagement
- engaging with their networks, communities, clients and individuals to ensure views are sought in respect of project ideas (EOI process and project prioritisation) and what outcomes they want the town deal to achieve
10.Stakeholder engagement plan and communications to be standing item on the Town Deal Board and EDG agenda to allow for flexibility and responsive approach to delivery.
Wards Affected
Policy Implications
Please identify if this report contains any implications for the following:
Equalities and Community Cohesiveness Yes
The development of the Town Investment Plan is offering any organisation and residents multiple opportunities to input and suggest projects for delivery. The board includes representation from the community (business and residents)
Crime and Fear of Crime (Section 17) No
Risk Management Yes
Risk log is maintained as part of the HBC project management process for this workstream
Environmental Issues No
Economic/Financial Implications Yes
Town Investment Plan, if approved will bring in up to £25m Town Deal funding, plus any additional private investment/other government funding.
Human Rights Act No
Organisational Consequences No
Local People’s Views Yes
The Stakeholder engagement plan will set out the community and others will be engaged throughout the process, not at just one point in time.
Anti-Poverty No
Additional Information
Officer to Contact
Hannah Brookshaw
Regeneration Manager
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My council
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