The Volunteering Strategy demonstrated that Brentwood Borough Council was committed to recognising the integral role that volunteers played in its communities in promoting and contributing to community cohesion.  The draft Volunteering Strategy 2016 outlined the Council’s plans for supporting local volunteering. The action plan outlined how the Council would achieve these objectives.

Cllr Russell  MOVED and Cllr Ms Sanders SECONDED  the recommendation.  

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

That Members agree to adopt the Brentwood Borough Council Volunteering Strategy 2016-2019 and its supporting action plan. 

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

The Volunteering Strategy strengthened the commitment to the Council’s vision for volunteering, which ensured that engagement with volunteers in service delivery was prioritised to involve the community in influencing decision-making.

The Strategy also prioritised supporting organisations to raise the profile of volunteering, whilst encouraging Council staff to undertake/ leave to carry out their own volunteering.

The Brentwood Compact committed Brentwood Borough Council, along with other statutory and Voluntary Community Sector organisations  to recognise the social and economic contribution that volunteers made and to recognise and support the importance of good practice and management of volunteers.