Agenda item

Leader – to receive a report (C-049-2020-21) on the opportunities for a community hub and its direction.

(1)        Cabinet considered the opportunities for establishing a community hub and were happy with the progress made; and

(2)        In the context of establishing a community hub, Cabinet understood the current discussions in relation to partnership working.

Councillor C Whitbread introduced the report updating the Cabinet on the Council’s Community Hub.

The impact of Covid-19 and the associated need to swiftly mobilise a local support hub back in March, provided a clear illustration of the value and benefit of partnership working in the Epping Forest district.  The ‘Covid response - Epping Forest Community Hub,’ whilst hosted by the District Council, relied heavily on the involvement and support of the voluntary community sector (VSC) and, specifically, Voluntary Action Epping Forest. Clinically extremely vulnerable residents who were required to shield continued to be able to access a range of collaboratively delivered services including; shopping, prescription collection, befriending and signposting to specialist support.  Through partnership working the Council had been able to draw on invaluable wider resources, not least from a pool of dedicated local volunteers and mutual aid groups, therefore increasing capacity and enabling responsive, friendly and accessible support to be delivered to those most in need.      

Officers had been having conversations with VAEF and Citizens Advice and other partners to help us target services where they were most needed, so residents got a more holistic service. They were looking at having ‘themed days’ at the hub maybe linking housing, homelessness and employment.  Working in a hub type environment would enable the type of intervention at the outset. The Civic would be at the heart of the Hub approach and then to expand on into different areas of the district.

Councillor H Whitbread said that this was an exciting project, she had been impressed by the new space which would be good for the public to use. Satellite hubs would also be very important.

Councillor Murray was pleased with the report but noted that the bulk of the population was not in Epping and was pleased about the satellite concept.

Councillor Patel was pleased with the report as it set the model of what a community hub should be. ECC should take note.

Councillor Janet Whitehouse asked if organisations would move into our offices or would they just have an information desk there. She was told that it would be different for each organisation.  Some organisations would move into the hub and give up their current premises. It would also allow officers to refer to other authorities set in the same building. It would grow organically.

Councillor Chris Pond said it was good to make better use of the Civic Offices and he hoped that Epping Library would be accommodated there.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse was pleased to see this join up how residents could access services, both virtually and physically.

Decision:

(1)        Cabinet considered the opportunities for establishing a community hub and were happy with the progress made; and

(2)        In the context of establishing a community hub, Cabinet understood the current discussions in relation to partnership working.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

Establishing a vision for a community hub as defined by the council, partners and community will ensure services were designed based on the collective need.

Other Options for Action:

To establish the building as a space where partners are co-located, with no additional opportunity for benefits from establishing a community hub.

To offer the space to commercial tenants which would generate income.

To remove or reduce grants with partners which at this stage would disrupt the direction of travel for reframing the relationship and establishment of the community hub.