Issue - items at meetings - Brighton and Hove City Council Volunteering Policy

Report of the Acting Director of Public Health (copy attached)

9.1       The Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Public Health seeking committee approval to a new single corporate Volunteer Policy for the council and an associated toolkit to support its implementation. This Policy and toolkit set out the council’s commitment to developing and expanding the role of volunteers within and across council services.

9.2       It was explained that the council’s Volunteering Policy supported the city’s “Power of Volunteering” Pledge by setting out the local authority’s clear commitment to volunteering with the council. It would also provide a valuable and consistent approach to the management of volunteers.

9.3       The City Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, Sam Warren explained that the Volunteering Policy and toolkit would support and promote volunteering across all directorates and would form an integral part of the council’s Community Collaboration Programme. It was part of a wider modernisation programme aimed at developing a coordinated approach to working with residents and communities, enabling co-production, collaboration and making services more efficient by reducing dependency and demand.

9.4       Councillor Moonan welcomed this piece of work which represented a bringing together and sharing good practice which could be used as benchmark for a collaborative framework.

9.5       Councillor Simson concurred stating that this was an excellent piece of work which set clear expectations objectives which could be refined further over time as appropriate.

9.6       Councillors Gibson and Littman both expressed their support for the document commending the emphasis on “neighbourliness”, but considered that in some instances the wording should be amended slightly for instance replacement of the word “should“ with “does” on Page 27 of the document. The Chair explained that the published document was an evolving piece of work and that the suggested changes, which were welcomed could be incorporated when the document was updated. Councillors Gibson and Littman confirmed that they were happy with that approach.

9.7       Councillor Penn noted that this document  had brought together twelve separate policies and streamlined them in order  to make them more accessible and user friendly. The positivity around mental health was especially welcomed.

9.8       A vote was taken and members voted unanimously to agree the recommendations set out in the report.

9.9       RESOLVED – (1) That the Volunteering Policy and toolkit as the corporate policy document, which sets out a formal and consistent organisational approach to volunteering across all council services; and

            (2) That the Committee endorses the expansion of volunteers within the council’s services to create additional social value and deliver services that are more inclusive, collaborative and accountable to their communities and service users