Cambridgeshire County Council confirm these five councillors are your champions and what they’ll do for their extra £5,000 a year
The five Camnbridgeshire councillors confirmed as the £5,000 a year 'area champions': Left: Lina Joseph, South Cambs (Con); Right: From top; David Wells, Huntingdon (Con); Elisa Meschini, Cambridge (Lab); Steve Tierney, Fenland/Wisbech (Con); and Lis Every, Ely/East Cambs (Con) - Credit: Archant
Job descriptions for Cambridgeshire County Council’s newly appointed £5,000 a year community champions – including Councillor Steve Tierney for Fenland and Lis Every for East Cambs – have been revealed.
Championing success and looking at areas that can be improved will form part of their role within the newly formed communities and partnership committee.
They will be tasked with looking out for working with communities wanting to “reduce reliance on statutory services” and helping to tackle issues such as homelessness to reduce costs of temporary housing.
Building up relations with the voluntary sector will be important and exploring “volunteering opportunities to reduce reliance on paid services”.
Their roles reflect the growing economic demands on the council’s purse strings but it goes much further.
A briefing note being considered by the committee on August 24 talks of tackling worklessness to improve health and well being including mental health.
They’re also being asked try and reduce the impact of anti social behaviours “on vulnerable people and communities”.
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Area champions will also be expected to undertake targeted youth support to tackle anti social behaviour and be looking to support and promote innovation.
The wide ranging document for area champions says tasks could vary from district to district depending on local needs but first they need to “gain a deep understanding” of key issues which impact on demand for county council services.
Area champions will be expected to “demonstrate leadership” in their districts “so people’s voices are heard and self-sustaining communities are encouraged”.
One section of the job description suggests area champions should become “an ambassador for community based provision”.
The council expects area champions to operate independently but with access to officers and sufficient resources to research and develop plans and priorities.
They will also be told to meet monthly “to provide updates, share and develop thinking”.
The £5,000 a year paid to community champions will be additional to their normal allowance.
