Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report presented the Council’s Community Wealth Building strategy for approval, which aims to address poverty and inequality in Cambridge and help create a more sustainable and inclusive economy. The Community Wealth Building Strategy represented an evolution of the Council’s approach to these issues and it would replace the Anti-Poverty Strategy from April 2024 onwards.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Community Wealth Building and Community Safety

Approved the Community Wealth Building Strategy.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategy and Partnerships Manager.

The Strategy and Partnerships Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          As part of its Community Wealth Building work, the Council would explore progressive procurement approaches, which could include increasing opportunities for different types of businesses to access the Council’s supply chain, including  community led co-operatives and other non-traditional business models.

     ii.          Officers actively involved stakeholders in the development of the strategy. For example, two interactive stakeholder workshops were held in November and December 2023 at the Guildhall and the Meadows, which were attended by nineteen community and voluntary organisations, business bodies and public sector partner. Attendees were based on partners the City Council knew were working on relevant areas so could contribute to the community wealth building discussion.

   iii.          The Community Wealth Building Strategy approach included a focus on building the six capitals identified by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, including natural capital and social capital. Referred to agenda page 256. Officers took advice on how to quantify and measure these capitals so they could be reported on in future. Referred to section 3 plus Appendices A and B in the Officer’s report. It may be possible to set targets to be reported in future setting out progress made between ‘current’ and ‘past’ positions.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.