Agenda item

A report by the Deputy Chief Executive - Communities

The Portfolio Holder presented the report supported by the Assistant Director for Wellbeing and the Community Leadership Manager.  Members were advised that the sovereign councils and the ‘South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’ recognised the important work of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). That included supporting the communities in South and East Lincolnshire to lead longer, safer, and healthier lives.  What has contributed to making South and East Lincolnshire great, was its people and its communities. Notably, the communities played a significant part in providing an active volunteering role in their localities. The reasons for that could be for community or personal advantage, with volunteering showing positive physical and mental health benefits to participatory individuals. The report provided an overview of activity that had taken place in the last year with the Voluntary and Community Sector.  It included a summary of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership ‘Trusted Volunteer Scheme’ funded through UK Shared Prosperity Funding, forming part of the Partnership’s strategic approach to working with the VCS within the Sub-Region.  In addition, the report sought the committees’ views on the approach taken to working with the Voluntary and Community Sector in Boston and across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils area, and further included the promotion of a Volunteer Charter for Members consideration.

Committee deliberation followed which included:

Members commended the report which they felt to be balanced but questioned what mechanisms were in place for the safety of volunteers who were often seen litter picking on main roads without any safety wear and as such, were putting themselves at risk. A further question asked what training, if any, was provided in respect of any physical activity required by volunteers.

Officers advised that the Charter was explicit in identifying the support needed for volunteers to undertake their activities, including provision of safety wear and also any manual handling of items. Members were also reassured that volunteers would not be undertaking any work previously carried out by paid employees, but they could claim out of pocket expenses for training and PPE and furthermore they were covered under the Council’s insurance.

On noting the number of single volunteers who were active within the town a member questioned how the Council would make them aware of the Charter and the support they could receive and was advised that the Council would ensure inclusion as part of its role was to support individuals alongside the groups.  

On referencing the implementation of the warm hubs programme, activated to provide a shelter for warmth over the winter months, a member noted that one parish had opted not to continue with the facility due to a low uptake, and questioned if other sites would be open through the forthcoming winter months.  Officers advised that a number of hubs had extended their initial time lines and become activity driven ‘clubs’ to both address the stigma that was often attached to the ‘warm hubs’ name and to also help combat social isolation, especially in rural areas.  There was recognition of the hard work of the core groups of volunteers across the borough that facilitated such clubs, with many of the volunteers providing a variety of support throughout the year.  Members further agreed the need to make volunteering more attractive to a cross section of the population and the importance of encouraging younger people to become involved.

It is recorded that a member of the public addressed the meeting at this part in the proceedings and voiced their concerns at the condition of the waterways within the borough which were blocked with weeds, and the negative effect it was having on businesses which both operated on the water, and also the impact on various sporting groups who used the rivers for both training and eventing.  The Chairman advised they had noted the concerns raised and reassured the member of the public that whilst the Council itself had no jurisdiction on the waterways, the concerns would be taken through the to relevant authority. 

In summary the Chairman noted that the report was comprehensive in detail and clearly identified the intent to progress further the support of volunteers within the borough, and committee agreed their support and recognition of the outstanding work undertaken by all the volunteers and the need to encourage and promote the role of volunteering wider to attract a range of volunteers moving forward.