Bath & North East Somerset Council, local Universities and
Student Unions have agreed to set up an innovative new partnership
to strengthen “town and gown” relations.
The agreement will set the framework for the Council, Bath Spa
University and the University of Bath, along with their Student
Unions to identify the impact of student life on the area and find
ways of working together to make a real difference in local
communities.
The Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor
Francine Haeberling and Councillor Christopher Watt, Cabinet Member
for Children’s Services, will be actively involved in the
partnership to ensure that issues will be raised at Cabinet
level.
The new Student Community Partnership will ensure that key
issues are prioritised and that the direct links with the
decision-making processes across all of the member organisations
are in place.
This also means raising the profile of the issues affecting
communities and students so that the Council’s Leader and Cabinet
Members can, where appropriate, direct resources to address them.
This will also have a positive impact on influencing other partners
and agencies to take action.
The Partnership will be linked with the Local Strategic
Partnership, which widens its influence and increases opportunities
for working with other organisations.
Councillor Francine Haeberling commented: “The Council’s Cabinet
is delighted to be launching the new Student Community Partnership
alongside the two Universities and their Student Unions. This
partnership represents a significant enhancement in the relations
between Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Universities
and their students. For the first time ever the Leader of Council
and all Cabinet Members, when necessary, will be liasing in a
formally constituted arrangement with Vice Chancellors and Student
Union presidents that will influence Council decision-making.”
Cllr Haeberling added: “The initiative offers an opportunity to
tackle the long-term strategic challenges faced by this city in
respect of town and gown issues in addition to providing high-level
Council support for existing projects, such as the Student Action
Line. The Council is taking a proactive approach to maximising the
positive impact that students have in our area whilst also ensuring
that students are good neighbours in the local communities where
they live.”
The Vice-Chancellor of The University of Bath, Professor Glynis
Breakwell said: “We put a great deal of emphasis on relationships
with the local community. We want to maximise the benefits
that students can bring to the community and believe that this
partnership will proved the ideal vehicle”.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University, Dr. Alun
Thomas also added: "This new Partnership will ensure that issues of
student community relations are addressed appropriately, to the
benefit of all concerned.
The Partnership will seek to address issues including:
· The impact of the increased
number of students in Bath, such as the balance between
student/residential housing and environmental concerns.
· Raising awareness of the
economic and societal advantages that students make to the local
area
· The provision of local
transport services and infrastructure for students and
residents
· Encouraging students to play an
active part in the Bath community, such as promoting
volunteering in the community
· Raising the profile of the two
Universities and gain maximum benefit from having 2 World class
universities in the City
· Provision of high-level Council
support to sustain and enhance existing projects, such as
the Student Action Line
· Concerns raised by those
residents and residents groups who are living in a community with
large numbers of students
Members of the Partnership attended a formal launch and signing
ceremony at the Guildhall on 1 November.
