Introduction and Effective Joint Working and an Influencing Role
JOINT WORKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ROTHERHAM’S LOCAL COUNCILS
Introduction
1.1 In this document, the term ’Local Council‘ is a generic term, used to mean town, parish, or community council. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council will be known as Rotherham Council.
1.2 In 2006, Rotherham Council and the Local Councils of Rotherham agreed to publish a Joint Working Agreement which sets out best practice and how they aim to work together to benefit our local communities/people.
1.3 This Agreement is intended to be a starting point, a commitment to work together and a statement of principles by which Rotherham Council and the Local Councils can approach their work together.
1.4 Rotherham Council acknowledges that local councils are the level of local government closest to the community and recognises the valuable role they have in providing services and representing their communities.
1.5 Rotherham Council recognises local councils’ democratic legitimacy and legal independence. Local Councils and Rotherham Council recognise each other as independent authorities legitimised through the democratic process.
1.6 Rotherham Council supports and encourages the development of Local Councils as democratically accountable bodies having local governance responsibilities and local representational authority to shape the decisions that affect their communities.
1.7 In turn, Local Councils recognise the strategic role of Rotherham Council and the distribution of services which it must achieve. Local Councils support the strategies of the borough council. For further information on Rotherham Councils strategies, policies, and plans please visit the Strategies, plans and policies – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Effective Joint Working and an Influencing Role
2.1 The Rotherham Borough and Local Councils Joint Working Group (JWG) is the consultative committee between both levels of authority.
2.2 The group consists of elected and clerk representatives from Local Councils, relevant Rotherham Council officers and is chaired by the Cabinet Member with Parish Liaison responsibility within their portfolio. Rotherham Council and Local Councils will support these arrangements.
2.3 During the course of the year a programme of Parish Network meetings will take place to which local councils are invited to send representatives. The Parish Network will discuss issues of mutual interest with Rotherham Council and be a forum for exchanging good practice and undertaking any relevant training.
2.4 For further detail on the work of the Rotherham Borough and Local Councils Joint Working Group, including the Network meetings, and other liaison activity see the Local Councils’ web page.
2.5 Local Councils have a significant role to play in the delivery of Rotherham’s Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy. Rotherham Council and the Local Councils will work together, and with other partners, to support the delivery of this strategy. Rotherham’s Thriving Neighbourhood Strategy is available on the Neighbourhoods pages of the Council website.
2.6 Through its Neighbourhoods Team, Rotherham Council will support Local Councils to get involved in neighbourhood working, providing them with an opportunity to shape local ward priorities, agree shared goals; and work alongside Borough Councillors, council services and partners to jointly tackle locally identified issues. Local Councils will be kept informed of the contact details for their Neighbourhood Coordinators per parish. The Your Neighbourhood web page provides further detail on the work of the Neighbourhoods team and Ward level working.
2.7 Rotherham Council is committed to providing appropriate training to members and officers about the roles and functions of Local Councils. The Local Councils and Yorkshire Local Councils Association will be consulted and involved with developing the content of training provision.
2.7 Rotherham Council member training will be opened to local councillors and clerks wherever appropriate.
2.8 Rotherham Council asks that Local Councils consider making representatives available for committee places or working groups when invited to do so.
2.9 Rotherham Council will support Local Councils to take part in the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS).
