Coventry City Council has approved a resolution calling for better support for community groups, including clearer links with Council officers and practical help with the digital tools needed to run their organisations.
The resolution, titled Community Engagement Protocol, was proposed by Councillor M Greenhalgh, a Green Party councillor, and discussed at the Council meeting on 20 October 2026. There was general agreement among councillors about the principle of supporting local groups, although views differed on how much support was already available and how best to develop it.
The resolution recognises the important contribution made by community associations and volunteer groups to the life of the city. However, it also highlights the difficulties they can face when dealing with Council procedures, finding suitable places to meet and work, establishing reliable email and website services, and meeting data protection requirements.
Clearer contacts and practical digital support
Under the resolution, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities is asked to work with the Director of Law and Governance to establish a Community Engagement Protocol. This would provide a clearer route for community groups to contact Council officers across services including Planning, Highways, Parks and Green Spaces, and Community Safety.
A second part of the resolution asks the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources to arrange an assessment of the feasibility of a Digital Civic Enablement Toolkit for non-commercial community groups.
The proposed toolkit could offer practical guidance on setting up low-cost, secure email systems and websites, accessing public civic registers, and meeting data protection and digital safety requirements. The intention is to make it easier for groups to operate effectively without needing specialist technical knowledge.
The resolution also calls for Council officers to work directly with active neighbourhood organisers to develop the support package, while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy or duplicating the work of existing voluntary-sector organisations.
Building on existing community engagement
During the debate, councillors discussed whether sufficient support was already available and how community organisations could be better connected with the Council. One contribution recalled the days when Ward Forums operated in every ward, while another called for the recognition of the role of ward councillors in supporting local groups.
These contributions highlighted an important question: how can the Council make it easier for residents and voluntary organisations to find the right contacts, share their concerns and work constructively with local services?
For organisations such as the Coventry Society, clearer routes of communication with Council officers could be particularly useful when raising issues concerning the city’s buildings, heritage and public spaces. The proposed digital guidance could also be helpful to smaller volunteer-led groups that lack access to specialist IT or data protection advice.
Turning the resolution into action
The resolution does not establish a new service immediately. The digital toolkit is subject to a feasibility assessment, while the proposed engagement protocol will need to be developed. The practical benefits will therefore depend on how the Council takes the proposals forward and how community organisations are involved in shaping them.
Nevertheless, the decision provides an opportunity to build stronger links between the Council and the many groups whose volunteers contribute to the life and wellbeing of Coventry.
The Coventry Society hopes that the resolution will lead to practical improvements, helping community organisations navigate Council processes, access appropriate advice and devote more of their time and energy to the work they do for the city.
Cllr Greenhalgh is a member of the Coventry Society.