Agenda item - Resident Involvement

(copy attached).

14.1    The Resident Involvement Manager introduced the report and stated that the attendance at the City Assembly has been falling since November 2013. Residents on the City Assembly subgroup of the Involvement & Empowerment Service Improvement Group had reviewed the history of the City Assembly and had discussed ways to improve attendance, alongside looking at feedback from tenant representatives and visiting the housing offices to speak to other residents.

14.2    It was detailed to the Panel that the Friends Meeting House had been provisionally booked to hold the City Assembly, as involved residents had fed back that a central venue is preferred. In addition to this, it was proposed that the City Assembly would be held from 1600 – 2000 hours as many residents had believed that the previous City Assemblies had been “too lengthy”. 

14.3    From the feedback that had been received, The Resident Involvement Manager explained that they were exploring the idea of changing the name from City Assembly to Citywide Conference. It was believed that the new name would make the purpose of the event clear to residents that had not previously attended.

14.4    Roy Crowhurst expressed that he did not feel that past City Assemblies had been useful. In response, the Resident Involvement Manager stated that the residents on the subgroup had looked at all feedback received and were still accepting ideas for the agenda.

14.5    Councillor Barnett believed that the Friends Meeting House would be unsuitable as it may be dangerous for elderly residents leaving at 2000 hours in December, as it would be dark. The Panel agreed.

14.6    Alison Gray stated that previous City Assemblies were set out in theatre style which made it difficult to communicate with other associations and the disabled access in previous venues had been a problem.

14.7    The Resident Involvement Manager agreed to accept other venue suggestions after the meeting had finished and would pass on all comments to the City Assembly subgroup.