Dear Colleagues

If you are reading this in January Happy New Year! If like me you are in over Christmas then have a few days off you deserve it - and of course Happy Christmas...

Following on from last November's meeting there are a number of issues that need picking up, and where possible some collective decisions as to a possible way ahead. Therefore I would like to call a meeting in January to start the New Year with a bang! 

The council is holding a meeting on the 15th of January 6:30 pm in the Freeman Suite KTH which is too close for us to prepare for but which KCSC urges people to participate in. The meeting will consider possible models for involving people more in decision-making at a local level.

The aim of the meeting is for the Panel (consisting of councillors) to explore:

• different approaches and models in use in other places; and
• which model(s) might be most relevant to Kensington and Chelsea at present and in the future

The agenda will be available on 7 January 2019. From this link

However, is a need to find a collective response to governance changes mooted by the Council? A meeting on the 5th of February 6:30 pm, also in the Freeman Suite KTH, is intended to address there following:

• How any changes to the Council’s governance might affect the work of partners in the borough
• How any new arrangements for involving people at local level might relate to borough-wide decision-making; and

• The aim of the meeting is for the Panel (made up of councillors) to understand:

• The views of local partners about involving people in decision-making; and
• How decision-making which involves people at local and borough-wide levels can be joined-up to support change at the council.

It is this that we have the prospect of influencing. If the Network is interested it would be good to submit a paper or proposition to the council. Can people who intend to come to the Network Group and wish to help form a response let me know so I can build space in the agenda for ideas to be presented and discussed?

Grenfell Network Group

I have had feedback from Howard Taylor of Grenfell United who has suggested a name change is a good idea and that using United in the title is fine, as is mentioning Grenfell in a strapline, such as "North Kensington Network of Unity" with a strapline Remembering Grenfell, sharing information, working for change). It would be helpful if we could start the year with a new name and a clear message. Perhaps a logo?

                                   Terms of Reference      

Ok whilst T.O.R. are not the most engaging of discussions to have, the matter was raised (rightly) at the last meeting, and I put out an appeal for feedback on this matter which appears to have drawn no responses. It is clear that the group needs to be light on its feet and as unencumbered by bureaucracy as possible but it does need some terms of reference to enable it to discuss with the council, for example, as an entity to be listened to. 

A reminder of why people felt we needed a forum:

• To disseminate information.
• Spread valuable information
• Networking
• United Front
• Combat silence
• Power
• Useful Meetings
• Useful links
• Great discussions
• To Focus on Lancaster West
• Good for information sharing

And what more could be done by us?

• Embrace the wider community.
• Follow up, make things happen.
• Email/web/letterhead – voice for all
• Look at how money could be brought into the area
• We need a logo, tagline (Grenfell needs remembering)
• Bulletins sent to all “members”
• Concrete outcomes
• Membership – have a terms of reference
• Factor in larger amount of time for discussions as they often feel pressed for time

Full agenda to follow in early January.

Kind Regards

Joe Batty

If you have any questions please contact Joe Batty at [email protected]

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